On Friday, April 15, late New Orleans Saints player Will Smith will be honored with a special second-line parade led by James Andrews of the Crescent City Allstars. An event listing on Facebook asked second-line participants to meet at the Half Moon Bay Bar (1125 St. Mary St.) at 6 p.m. Friday for a march to the Smith memorial at Sophie B. Wright Place and Felicity Street. The New Orleans Saints are also planning their own memorial celebration and a public visitation for Smith that will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. the same day at the Saints practice facility in Metairie. Smith was team captain for the Saints' Super Bowl team in 2009.
Smith's death came as a shock this past weekend after he was shot and killed late Saturday night in what authorities say was a road rage incident. Smith's wife, Racquel, was shot once in each leg and is recovering in a local hospital.
New Orleans is scheduled to induct Smith into the Saints Hall of Fame this year and the former NFL player had planned to be a coaching intern on Sean Payton‘s staff this upcoming football season.
