J. David Smith, 76, of Fitzgerald, died Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Friday, January 9, 2015, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Farise Taylor and the Rev. Barry Stephens officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Thursday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Smith was born April 15, 1938, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late Lamar & Ruby C. Smith. A 1956 graduate of Fitzgerald High School, he served his country honorably in the United States Air Force. He was a former employee of Goodman’s Welding and owned and operated Smith Machine Shop in Ocilla. Mr. Smith taught welding at the former Ben Hill-Irwin Tech and was a crop insurance agent for Great American. He was a member and former head usher at Arbor Baptist Church.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Janie & Eddie Arnold of Moultrie; three grandchildren; two step-children; two step-grandchildren; and a brother, Wayne & Mary Smith. He is also survived by a very special friend and his long-time caregiver, Bobbie Biggers and faithful friends, Josh Erwin and Jakie Ethridge. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra Singletary Smith; a son, Glenn Smith, a sister, Marlene Blevins; and three brothers: Donald Smith, Shelton Smith, and Edward Smith.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to Blue-Gray Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1447, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.