Stephen Payne Smith

Stephen Payne Smith, 63, of Frederick, Maryland, passed away in his sleep on August 3rd, 2026. Born on March 13, 1963, in Pensacola, Florida, Stephen was the youngest of three sons of the late Gerald Hunt Smith and Anne Day Smith. Stephen grew up all across America, having lived in Florida, California, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia. He visited 45 of the 50 states and traveled to many countries before his passing. Stephen always preferred to drive and made multiple trips across the United States.

Stephen was born with an indefatigable work ethic. From a young age, Stephen went headfirst into the workforce, holding jobs delivering papers in the freezing Minnesota mornings, aiding the lunch ladies in school, babysitting, being the school photographer, photographing his mother’s miniatures, and cooking for and waiting on his parents’ parties. He graduated from High School in 3 years and went on to college at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he received his associate’s in Culinary Arts and his bachelor's in Management, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Stephen started his career as a pastry and culinary chef, working under famous names like Wolfgang Puck, and continued through multiple restaurants with dreams of being a head chef and owning his own restaurant. However, a new passion would soon emerge as the world was introduced to brand new technology, computers. He bought his own personal computer and taught himself everything he needed to know about how they worked. When it was evident that the world would soon be changing, Stephen altered his trajectory and launched into the exciting age of digital. Stephen’s fascination and love of computers turned into a lifelong career as he worked his way up the ladder, starting his career specializing in server maintenance and management and later holding titles such as Senior Manager of Operations, Vice President of Information Technology, Cloud Services Executive, and ultimately ending his career as Chief Technology Officer at Peraton. Stephen worked with the Department of Homeland Security on multiple high-profile contracts and was on the cutting edge of revolutionary technology like Cloud Services and Architecture, and the emerging world of AI. After Peraton, Stephen continued his work through IT helplines for the Woodlands community in which he lived, spearheading the group and deploying his own services as well as managing a small group of IT experts to those in need. Stephen could also be called upon by his wife and family to help solve their technical problems, free of charge. Additionally, Stephen proudly held the title of President of Woodlands Condo One Association.

Stephen met his wife, Constance, in Arizona in 1990 and proposed just six months later. The two were married in 1991, and together they raised three children. Stephen loved his family dearly and brought his humor to any event with a dad joke ready at all times in his back pocket. He loved history and visiting the Smithsonian museums in DC. He enjoyed taking his family on vacations to theme parks, especially trips to Busch Gardens and Williamsburg. His family will fondly remember him as a man who worked hard and played harder with gadgets and gizmos of all sorts that he discovered online and shared with everyone.

In Stephen’s free time, he could be found in his workshop, with his many woodworking tools, crafting amazing pieces. From spinning pens and various utensils on his lathe to using his router to cut the signature joints to the boxes and furniture he perfected, he loved it all. Self-taught, he buried himself in woodworking books and video tutorials on how to craft and made an array of beautiful items. He was always excited to add a new tool or machine to his arsenal and gifted his family and friends with sentimental, engraved pieces. When 3D printers came out, Stephen invested in one for his workshop and expanded his craft to whatever he was able to print. He printed additions to his wife’s miniature collection, made dice towers for his kids’ D&D games, and created interesting and hilariously bizarre trinkets.

Stephen was extremely patriotic and supportive of the troops and veterans. He believed strongly in donating to local organizations and giving back to the community he lived in. He also donated to associations that looked to research and cure Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and Cancer.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Anne Smith, and his brother Frederick Smith. He is survived by his brother David Smith, his wife Constance Smith, his son Benjamin Smith and his fiancée Kiiursha Motley, his son David Smith and his wife Yoselin Smith and their sons Luca and Maxwell, and his daughter Brittany Thompson and her husband Joseph Thompson and their son Theodore.

The family will receive friends for the memorial service at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opposumtown Pike, Frederick, Maryland, on Thursday, August 13th at 11 am. A celebration of Stephen’s life will follow.

In place of flowers, Stephen would have wanted memorial donations to be made to the American Diabetes Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the American Cancer Society.

Stephen will be greatly missed by family and friends, and his memories will live on and be cherished forever.