In the quiet Tulsa suburb of Bixby, Oklahoma, a tragic event unfolded on the morning of July 6, 2022, ending the life of a prominent community leader. Sherry Yvonne Gamble-Smith, a 55-year-old Black female, was found deceased in her home from a gunshot wound. Known as a visionary leader and a passionate advocate for her community, her sudden death sent shockwaves through those who knew her.
Police were dispatched to the Smith residence around 8 a.m.
following a 911 call from inside the house. Upon arrival, they discovered Sherry's body and her husband, Martin Everett Smith, gravely injured. He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The initial assessment by the Bixby Police Department suggested the incident was domestic in nature.
As the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation joined the inquiry, a clearer picture of the tragedy emerged. Weeks after the incident, investigators concluded their work, officially classifying the case as a murder-suicide. Evidence gathered from the scene, including home security footage and digital records, revealed that Martin Everett Smith had shot and killed his wife during a domestic argument before turning the weapon on himself. With this determination, the investigation was closed, leaving a community to mourn the loss of a beloved figure. No other suspects were sought, as the evidence pointed solely to the tragic actions of Sherry's husband.
Sherry Gamble-Smith was the founding president and CEO of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, an organization she helped establish in 2018. Her work was instrumental in promoting and empowering the African American business community in Tulsa. Friends and colleagues remembered her as a warm and wonderful human being, full of generosity and a conviction for justice and decency. Her death was not just a personal tragedy for her family, which included a blended family of five children, but a significant loss for the entire community she served with such dedication. Hundreds gathered for a vigil to honor her life and legacy, remembering her tireless efforts to foster unity and progress.
