ALFRED- Elijah David Smith, age 22, passed away tragically in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 27th 2026.
Elijah was born on October 3rd, 2003 to Tammie Elwell Smith and Jeffrey Smith. After an expeditious 44 minutes of labor, he made his appearance on this earthly plane and he never once slowed down from that point. He was incredibly gifted at making others laugh, hurting himself, and being a really good brother. He could be forgiven for just about anything because he knew how to make people forget about any transgression with that infectious grin of his.
He was an incredibly hard worker, doing multiple jobs through his short life including cement work, food service, roofing, and being Mr. Fix It to anything and anyone that needed repair. He had a huge heart, and he was always willing to show up for the people in his life that mattered to him, no matter the circumstances. He is predeceased by his Uncle Bud (Timothy Elwell) and brother Noah Abram, who was born sleeping. He is survived by his loving girlfriend Phaedra Eggleston of Alfred, maternal grandparents Ellen and George Strickland of West Newfield, maternal grandfather Lloyd Elwell of Standish, paternal grandparents Cindy and John Smith of Shapleigh, his parents Tammie Elwell Smith of Parsonsfield, Jeffrey Smith of Shapleigh, Aunt Melanie Smith of Shapleigh, sisters, Maryellen Esposito of Hollis, Kayla Esposito of Standish, Hanna Smith and Isabelle Smith of Limington, Avis Smith of Rochester, NH, and Heidi Smith of Sanford - and his brothers, Johnathan Smith, Thaddeus Smith and Timothy Smith who reside with their mother in Parsonsfield, his nieces Willow, Kyran, Penelope and Peyton and nephews Henry and Callum, plus many friends, cousins and extended family members.
Elijah's celebration of life will be held on his 23rd birthday, October 3rd 2026, at his maternal grandparents' home at 96 Keepaway Lane in West Newfield, Maine at 1pm. Private family burial service to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made out to the gofundme https://gofund.me/4ce1cfb24 meant to support his girlfriend Pheadra and her younger sister Bailey during this difficult time as Elijah was their main financial support.
Elijah was loved by everyone who knew him, even when he was difficult it was impossible to ignore the bright light that he cast out into the world. While he was only with us for just short of 23 years, he left an incredible impact on all who knew him. Rest in peace Elijah, you will be sorely missed.
The following are personal messages from loved ones reflecting Elijah's influence in their lives:
From Phaedra, his girlfriend and partner:
“Elijah, my boyfriend, was more than just my boyfriend. He was my best friend.
I always told him how he is my sunshine, and that always was and still is true because now without him my life is grey.
He was one of the very few people I've met that I can certainly say is a good person. His intentions were always pure, he was friendly, forgiving and always knew when to say sorry.
He so badly craved deep connections with people he met and could always keep a conversation going. He was also the funniest person I’ve ever met, I could never ever stay mad at him because he would always make me laugh and I am so beyond grateful for the amount of laughter he gave me.
He was also so insanely talented.. He was a wonderful cook and baker, he would spend hours cooking and baking for fun and he made me love foods I thought I hated.
He was an amazing singer and one of our favorite things to do together was sing in the car.
He could fix practically anything and was willing to take on any project, no matter how hard.
He was so strong, it was absolutely inspiring. I didn’t just love him as my partner but who he was as a person, he was my hero and the person I looked up to. I wanted and still want to be just like him.
I am so so grateful to have experienced having a life with him even if it was cut so short.
I love you my sweet boy, I love you more than anything and I am so proud of you.”
His Sister Hanna:
“I’m not sure how to put into words just how much our family lost on Sunday.
We were just talking about how you were going to propose, how perfect you wanted it to be, and how you wanted to take Jonny to work with you to show him the ropes.
I’m so grateful for the time we had together. You became one of my favorite people as you got older, and it was amazing watching you become the man you were. You worked your ass off for everything you had, and you had the biggest heart. You loved people so deeply, and I could see that every time you talked about helping someone or about Phaedra and how much she meant to you. I was so happy you had found your person.
You were so excited when Jonny, Thaddeus, and Timmy were born. You loved being a big brother and were always talking about things you wanted to teach them and how you wanted to help them as they grew up. They loved you so much. Every project, every fish they caught—it was always, “I have to show Elijah,” or, “I can’t wait for Elijah to see this.” It breaks my heart that they have to grow up without their big brother.
And as much as you complained about your sisters, you were always so protective of us. You took being the oldest boy very seriously. You were my first call when I needed help with something or there was an emergency, because I knew you would always be there—even if it was just to bitch about everything.
You were an amazing person, and it feels so unfair that we have to go on without you. I love you so, so much. I am going to miss having to look up at my baby brother for the rest of my life.“
His sister Isabelle:
"How can you sum up someone’s life in words
I never thought I would have to say goodbye to you so soon. I’m so proud to have known you and I know you never really knew how proud I was of the man you were becoming I wish I had just said fuck it and gone to that concert I’m so sorry
I know we had a lot of ups and downs and I mean a lot but whenever I called you always pick up and calm me down by the end of it. I need one of those calls right now because I don’t know how I’m going to tell my son his uncle E is gone.
I realized I have no pictures of this past year and a half because every time we were doing something we were too busy to stop and take a pictures we were always having too much fun. and that I will never forget
But I do remember all the good times
Like this one time you were waiting by the door to scare me and you did so bad that I used my left hand (not my dominant hand) and punched you so hard you flew back and you just looked at me and started laughing your ass off because both of us didn’t expect it.
Or the time you were trying to tell me how to seasoned my cast-iron pan you told me to use salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder and I had to break the news to you that that’s not actually how you season cast-iron pans but you play it off like you were joking.
I’m so proud to call you my big little brother
I love you so much and I miss you I still don’t believe you’re really gone. I’m waiting for you to call me and tell me you’re ok. Life is so fucking unfair”
His sister Avis:
"Our relationship was complicated, and I know there were things between us that neither of us ever quite knew how to fix. We were both stubborn, we both had our own feelings and our own walls, and somehow we lost our way from each other. But underneath all of that, you were my big brother and I loved you. I always cheered you on, I was always proud of you, and a part of me always hoped that someday we would find our way back to each other. I just never imagined we would run out of time. I’ll always carry the memories we shared, the love I had for you, and the wish that we had been given more time to make things right. No matter how complicated life became between us, you were my big brother and you always will be. I love you so much Elijah"
His Sister Heidi:
“These past few days have felt like a nightmare i can’t wake up from, i never thought this day would come so soon,
I didn’t always have a close relationship with you but I always wanted to, we didn’t really talk for a while I wish we talked sooner we finally started to have our relationship again a few years ago, i got to know how it was to have an older brother who wanted to be my older brother and I’m extremely grateful for that, you once told me that I’ll always have you cheering me on even if it’s from the sidelines I will always remember that, you made it known who you loved and when you were proud,
There is so much I wish I could tell you from hardships to jokes to so much more, so many things you’re gonna miss and so many milestones you’ll never know, this is so unfair.
I’ll miss the random deep conversations we would have about anything and everything and all your rants, I will cherish all of the texts we have I wish all of our conversations were written down,
I’m so thankful that i can hear you saying “i love you kiddo” I hope i never lose that, you reached out to me even when you had so much going on you cared so much,
I thank God that you had Phaedra and Bailey you got to experience having a family at such a young age, you shouldn’t be gone Elijah I wish I could just have one more minute with you, one more hug, one more stupid joke, one more laugh and one more cry with you,
I don’t understand God's plan and I don’t think I ever will but I’m thankful I got the chance to be your little sister,
you were only 22 you had so much left to see and do. I hope you knew how much people loved you. You were too young, you barely lived life. I can't believe this is real.
We will always love you Elijah David “
His Sister Kayla:
“My baby brother Elijah has left this earth and trying to process that loss feels impossible.
He was always so charismatic, and everything he did in his life was as loud and big as that shit eating grin he always had on his face. He couldn’t help but be the center of attention whether he was trying to or not.
I will always love and miss you, sweet boy”
His Girlfriend's Sister Bailey:
"Elijah was the first of my sister's boyfriends that even acknowledged me, he'd joke with me and actually noticed when I was there. He'd make me tons of food, even when I didn't live with him when he made dinner he always offered me food. Elijah was such a sweetheart, he started to become like an older brother to me, the male figure I needed after the events of this year. He bought me candy, gave me half of his whoopie pie when he forgot the candy. Elijah Smith was the light in me and my sisters life, we needed him and I like to think he needed us as well, he was amazing and so incredibly considerate, I feel there isn't enough words to describe how much he meant to me and my sister and how much it hurts now that he's gone.
Thank you Elijah for being there for one of the most important people in my life, and thank you for being one of those important people. I miss you.”
His Bonus Family, the McMeekins:
“Elijah was someone you could call whenever you needed help, whether it was for a ride home, a heavy lift, or anything in between. He had a way of bringing a smile into a room, even in difficult moments. Honest, trustworthy, polite, and hardworking, he was a young man of many talents. He had overcome so much, and he had every reason to be proud of the person he had become.
The McMeekin/Smith family are deeply grateful to have been part of Elijah’s life and to have watched him grow into the man he was. He became a brother to Patrick McMeekin, Logyn McMeekin, Madison McMeekin, Jessica Miner and a son to Charles McMeekin and Christina Smith. Our hearts ache for the years we will not get to share with him, but we will always cherish the years we had. Elijah was our family, and he will forever be part of our family tree.”
Family Friend, Kelly:
“Elijah Smith, I cannot believe you are gone. My heart is absolutely broken. I am heartbroken selfishly because I will miss you, but even more so for your parents, your siblings, and everyone who loved you so deeply including Phaedra. You definitely lit up when telling me about her.
I have known you your entire life, and every single time I saw you, you greeted me with that huge smile of yours. It never mattered where you were or who you were with—I could always count on a big hug and that mischievous smile. And we both know just how mischievous you could be. Those are memories I will hold onto forever.
You loved your family so much, and my heart aches knowing you won’t be here to watch your little brothers grow up or to share all the moments ahead with your amazing sisters. I know how much they meant to you.
Rest peacefully, Elijah. I will never forget that smile, those hugs, or the wonderful young man you became
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, East Waterboro, www.mainefuneral.com