Shirley “Ann” Tumlin Smith, 78, of Tifton died Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church in Tifton. Rev. Stephen Webb will officiate with burial to follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Sam Bowen, Jim McCranie, Ross Smith, Mike Smith, John Robinson, and Greg Smith will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Searchers Sunday school Class at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, Dr. Joe Turner, Bette Turner, Charles Massey and Carolyn Massey. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 9, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Smith was born on December 28, 1935 in Flowery Branch and grew up in Madison. She was the daughter of John Tumlin and Ruth Tanner Tumlin, of Gainesville, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Robley D. Smith; one son, Carl Vinson Walters; and one sister, Edith Brock of Eatonton.
Mrs. Smith graduated from Morgan County High School and Mercer University, where she was May Day Queen and was a member and Social Director of Chi Omega Sorority and a sweetheart of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. She received her BA degree in Education from Mercer University and her Masters degree in Education from Valdosta State University. She was State President of the Georgia Medical Auxiliary and past president of Tifton’s Camellia Garden Club and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. in Tifton.
Mrs. Smith was an elementary school teacher and the Administrator of Irwin County Migrant Worker Education Program. She was a member of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, where she taught the Searcher’s Sunday school Class for over 30 years, served on the Administrative Board and was a member of the Board of Directors, the Women Circle 9, Club 55 and the Thursday Morning Prayer Group.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her children and their spouses, Mike Smith of Ty Ty, Robley Smith Jr. of Panama City Beach, Florida, Lisa Smith Robinson of Gainesville, Greg and Karen Smith of Saint Simon’s Island, Debbie and Scott Patton of Smyrna and Julie and Frank Segal of Gulf Breeze, Florida; her grandchildren, Laurie Smith Tyre, Ross Smith, Caroline Smith, John Robinson, Scotty Patton, Lance Patton, Spencer Segal, and Ansley Segal; one great-grandson, Wills Tyre; and her brother and sisters and their spouses, A. C. and Betty Tumlin of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Sara Tumlin Mills of Florence, Alabama, Sybil and Len Bradberry of Madison, Martha Sue Tumlin Dotson of Chatsworth and Lynn and Joe Hanson of Madison.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Fulwood Garden Center, P. O. Box 1772, Tifton, GA 31793; or to the First United Methodist Church of Tifton, General Fund, 107 West 12th Street, Tifton, GA 31794.