David Leon Smith, Jr. Mr.
December 19, 1941 ~ December 23, 2014
Born in:
Atlanta, GA
Resided in:
Loganville, GA
David Leon Smith, Jr., age 73, of Loganville, GA passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2014. A teacher of Christ and Photography, blessed with talent of creating heirloom family portraits. Well known all over the southeast, for his portraits with a “Touch of life”. Many people across the south celebrate a portrait created by David Smith at his studio in Stone Mountain, GA since 1971. Amongst his photographer peers he was a mentor to many thousand. He lectured and taught many other photographers and was known worldwide. A lot of his students today show a little of David’s legacy in their own work. Over his career in photography he has entered his art into many competitions and has received many accolades and awards including Master and Craftsman of Photography through Professional Photographers of America. He was a member of an elite group of 50 photographers called Camera Craftsman of America (CCA). David was the recipient of the highest award in America, the fellowship degree given by The American Society of Photographers. His work is published in a book through CCA every five years. David was the 1st American to receive British Institute of Professional Photography’s highest award, The Fellowship Degree. He also was awarded the “Peter Grugeon Jubilee Award” for most outstanding presentation. David was born in Atlanta, Georgia; He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher K. Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Howard Smith; sons, A. Troy Smith of Loganville and Jason H. Smith and his wife Samantha of Buford; mother, Vivian Robinson Jarrett of Woodstock; Grandchildren, Ashley Taylor Smith, Marion Elizabeth Smith, and Jack Andrew Smith; brothers, Richard P. Smith of Clarkeville, Donald L. Jarrett of Woodstock, Howard Jarrett of Walnut Grove, and Eddie Smith of Albany. Funeral Services will be held Saturday December 27, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at Cross Pointe Sugarloaf with Dr. James Merritt; Dr. Charles Stanley and Rev. Ron Cansler officiating. The Family will receive friends Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 pm at Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his memory can be made to the Salvation Army 1424 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, GA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wagesandsons.com
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Linda, my sweet friend, so very sorry for your loss. We loved David so very much, such a giving heart and wonderful man. Please my dear if there is anything I can do, don’t hesitate to let me know. We love you guys so very much, will be praying for you during this difficult time.
Shirley & Robert Harbin
linda, David was one of my heroes, not just in photography but as a Christian who shared his faith with everyone. You and your family are in my thoughts and Prayers in this most difficult time. David is healthy, happy and with Jesus just in time to celebrate His birthday. We are the people who grieve for our loss. Take comfort in knowing we will all be together again in our Father’s Kingdom. Blessings to you all. Barry Rankin
Linda,
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss of David, and I’m also sorry I won’t be able to be there for the memorial to give you a hug.
David was an inspiration to me as a model of the kind of man I want to be as I grow in years. I would have liked to have had many more years of his inspiration, but I know that his faith in Christ assures me of one day seeing him again. I’m so grateful for having known him.
My love to you, Linda,
Mark (and April) Brandes
It was my privilege to serve as David’s Pastor for many years and was honored to Baptize him in 1974. We have remained close friends through all these years. He was an exceptional Christian leader, family person, community leader, and professional photographer recognized all over the nation. He has been an inspiration to thousands of people and always had a genuine Christian spirit and devotion. All of us will miss his presence and wonderful friendship. He is now present with the Lord. All of us will keep Linda and the family in our prayers and will be here to help. May the Lord give you His Peace and comfort during this special time.
Linda and Jason, David was a true example a husband , father and friend.I know that you all will miss him but we will see him in Heaven. Love you
David’s family be sure that he was the gentleman Christian that we looked up to and pray for comfort for you and your family at his home going. God bless you!
Linda and family – My heart …. is right in this with you. I could not possibly have respected another human being more than David – such a brilliant talent, kind heart, and admirable to watch as a husband to you and father to your children. What an honor to have a collection of photos taken by the world’s best photographer. The blessing is that you are not alone in this … so many many of us truly loved our friend and brother David – and you are an extension of him still among us. Love you with all of my heart and share in this deeply tough time.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have known of David Smith since I began my professional photography career over 25 years ago. I have always thought of him as the ultimate symbol of a true professional photographer. He inspired so many people, including myself, over many years. I am deeply saddened that we will no longer have his guidance. The end of an era has come. I pray for God’s grace on your family while knowing that Heaven has another angel. My thoughts and prayers are there for you all. God will certainly give you strength to get through this time of mourning. We all loved him very much and he will truly be missed.
Dear Linda, Jason and family,
I am sadden by the lost of a great man of photography and a brother in Christ. May Christ be your strength and comfort during this period of grief. But also know, that you can rejoice with the angles, because David is in Heaven and one joyous day you will see him again.
Dear Linda and Jason,
I started my photography business in 1976 and David was there for us photographers all those years. He will be missed as a photographer and Christian who has influenced others around the world. David had a great sense of humor and I will always remember him for making our profession fun.
Dear Linda,
I always looked forward to our photographs as a kid because Mr David was such a fun, happy guy. After spending time with you two when I grew up I appreciated his godly character and golden heart. I know he is enjoying the awes of heaven but I will miss him, as I know you will too. Love you guys and am praying for you this Christmas season. Here’s to a great man and a great life.
– Jonathan
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time of loss. David was a wonderful example of a Christian man and a great mentor and friend to so many. He will be missed greatly. God bless and comfort you all in the time ahead.
Dear Linda and Jason and family,
Words cannot express how sad Jim and I are with David’s passing. He was such a special man and photographer. I will always cherish my memories of his sweet warm smile and how much he guided me when he was president of ASP and I was on the board. We are sending you our love and best wishes for this sad time.
Helene Glassman-DiVitale and Jim DiVitale
The Georgia Professional Photographers Association is so lucky to have had an association with David. As Photographers and as people we have all benefited from his giving spirit in his talents as a photographer, his love for life, and the way he lived his life as an example for those around him. I cannot think of a time that I saw him when he was not smiling or trying to entertain someone.
Kevin Jiminez
Linda and family-
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. David touched many lives and his loss will be felt by all. May God be ever close to you!
Ken and Marlene Ginn
David will be missed. And heaven has received a fantastic faithful angel. Linda my heart and prayers go out to you and your family. May you find comfort and peace in the wonderful memories. David touched so many and left a legacy behind. God bless!
Dear Linda and family,
I have been praying for you , Jason , Richard and the rest of your family and will continue to lift you up in prayer. As a young aspiring photographer at North Ga Tech . David touched my heart and soul and inspired me more than you will know . His classical style of photography and his Christian testimony have molded me into the photographer I am today , some 20 years later. David and Richard were always the life of the party at NGT and any GPPA functions . My eyes were opened and my life changed forever after visiting your studio in Stone Mountain . My prayer for you is that God will give you all a peace that passes all our understanding and he will wrap his loving arms around you as our great comforter and mighty God . My hope and wish for myself and other photographers is that we will be as talented and sharing as Mr. David was and share the glorious gospel of His light. We love you all God bless Spencer Smith
I am so sorry ! Linda , you are in my prayers!
We’re so sorry. David’s kindness and genuine love for all is a true loss for us but his Father above is welcoming him home.
Linda,
I am so sorry about your loss. Know that you and your family are in my prayers. We love you!
Linda,
I am truly sorry for your loss. I spent a week with the two of you in the early 90’s at Texas School. Not only your knowledge of Photograohy but your love for our Lord changed my life. I pray for your peace. You and Mr. David touched so many lives. A life’s work well done.
Charla
Dear Linda and family,
We are deeply sorry for your loss, we send you in this sad moment our sympathy and prayers. David was not only a great photographer but an inspiration to all as human being, he left behind him a memory of Love and kindness, He was such a ”Gentleman”. We will miss him very much.
Joseph and Louise
Linda, Jason, Richard and families…David Smith influenced a generation of photographers all over the country, but no where more than in Georgia and North Caroiina. He was a mentor to hundreds but a friend to everyone he met. Those of us fortunate enough to study with him at PPNC and East Coast School are better photographers by his generous sharing of talent and inspiration. But we are unquestionably better in every way due to his gentle faith and gracious spirit.
Linda, Jason and family, I also am so sorry for your loss. I send prayers of love and peace to you to help mend the sadness. I am one of the many that were a student of David’s. As you know he is an amazing man. Loved by many. I pray you will be surrounded by many friends and closure and peace will come to you. All my love, joanie
I will miss you a whole lot. I will pray for the family. All my love Lee & Buddy.
I will miss you a whole lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will pray for the family.
Love, Lee & Buddy
Cheryl and I have been blessed by having the influence and love of both David and Linda Smith while we were young, courting, dating and into our marriage and beyond all these years. Heaven has gained a Giant when the gates opened wide for David to enter, all the Angels singing and rejoicing, informing David now he begins to live his life anew! We are grateful for the many years of friendship – appreciative of the many years we were welcomed and invited into your family; and honored for the prayers and encouragement both David and Linda bestowed upon us. We will miss David much but know we’ll see him at Heaven’s gates one day soon…Praying for you, Linda, Troy, Jason and the rest of your sweet family! Dad Smith – Thanks for being an example of what a man of God is! Brian & Cheryl Blais
Dear Linda and family,
Our heart is breaking for you and your family. We have been so blessed to have had David in our lives. We have such fond memories of David and you have shared so many important events of our lives. David was such a special person. We love you and your family. We are praying for you all during this time in your life. Sending all our love to you. Robert and Bonnie Meredith
Linda,
Please accept my deepest sympathy in the sudden loss of your sweet husband, David. He was always so kind and always a gentleman. I have been praying for you and your family that God will provide peace and comfort during this time of great loss.
Love, Bruce and Rhonda
Linda, I am so sorry for your loss. David was a sweet man and he will be missed. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Linda, and family,
I send you love, and we hold you all close in prayer. David showed us a life and true faith well lived.
Our Cameracraftsman of America family is brighter and stronger through Davids love and leadership. With love, carol
Linda, we were so saddened to learn of David’s passing. David was a good man, gentle and kind. We cherish many wonderful memories in our lives over the years that you and David shared with us and memorialized with photographs and portraits. We will remember you in our prayers. Please extend our sincere sympathy to all your family. Sincerely, Deborah Drummond, Paige and Brent Davis and Ross Drummond
Linda and Family,
God has blessed Marlene & I with your family’s friendship for more than 35 years. We’ve had the privilege in getting to serve our Lord with you and David through many facets of our church life. I will always cherish those memories of the RA camping trips, choir rehearsals and golf outings with David. Your family has always had a special place in our hearts. We will miss David, our Brother in Christ dearly and take comfort in knowing we’ll be together again will all of our family in Christ.
Linda, I have lost one of the dearest and best friends I ever had and one of the finest men I have ever known. His work is all throughout our house and I will think of him every day. Teresa and I love you and your family and pray the Lord’s peace will fill your heart and his grace would flood your soul.
Dear Linda, Jason, Troy,
We are so sorry to hear of your sudden loss. David was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I always enjoyed seeing his smiling face, as the patriarch of your family. He always had a good message or a joke when I saw him. I did not see him as much of late, but we did chat from time to time, and I always enjoyed it.
He was truly a man of the Lord, and had nothing but good, honest intentions in his heart, and for that, many folks, like me, will really miss him.
May God bless you all in this trying time,
Love, Rosy, Alec, Sara, and Ricky Thomas
Linda: Tera and I enjoyed being with you and David on the cruise. Such a shock to hear of his death. This is the time our wonderful God, family and friends are such a comfort and blessing. You are in my prayers.
We are deeply sorry for your loss, . David was not only a great photographer and teacher but an inspiration to all as human being, he left behind him a memory of Love and kindness, He was such a ”Gentleman”. He will be greatly missed.
We send our Love to you Linda and with the greatest memories of one of our dearest Friend, David. Going back to 1969 or 70 and his beginning days in photgraphy and the sharing and caring for others. His life will continue in the hearts of all whom he touched . Blessed are the Memories of a great Man .
Querido Amigo, un gran ejemplo de bondad y profesionalismo.
My Dear Sweet Linda, Jason, Troy, Richard and Family,
Clay and I are so very heart broken of David’s loss. We send hugs of comfort! In knowing David, I know where he is and I rejoice in knowing that he is smiling and making some angel laugh, I just know it! I am so very blessed to have known David! For without his love, his sharing with others, his living testimony, his kindness, his joy for life, and the blessings of God’s will he lived out, many of us would not be where we are today. He touched so many lives and will continue to touch others through his beautiful works! God had a hand in David’s life like no other! David was a huge part in shaping my life, I will never forget the day he brought me to NGT in his black corvette, where he introduced me into Richard’s photography program! “What a day”! I was so excited that someone cared enough to show and guide me in a direction of their own love and talent! On this day, I met my now husband Clay and a true loving friend, Richard! From here I met all of the Smith family whom I have always loved and adored! All of you have a special place in my heart! I think of all the memories and stories of all of you, funny ones, oh such funny ones, and many stories of how David changed and impacted my life in so many ways. What and example David lived out for us in God’s will. I will truly miss him and will always have a special love in my heart for him forever! Love all of you, and all of you are in our thoughts and prayers!
Warmest Blessings,
Robin and Clay Brown
Dearest Linda, Troy and Jason,
I am so deeply sorry for your loss of David. You may not remember but I lived across the street from the Jarretts and would babysit for the boys while you and David worked weddings. David would drive to Decatur and pick me up in the Green MG and I kept the boys at your house near Stone Mtn. I remember him as such a kind man who truly loved his family. May God give you peace and comfort now and in the days ahead.
Linda, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We pray for God’s grace to be manifested to you and your family. Thankful
for the memories, they are a gift from God that death cannot destroy
Linda, We are so sorry to hear about David. David was such a huge part of my life and had such impact, working with the two of you was some of the best times of my life and I treasure those memories forever.
Again, we are so sorry!
With Love and…..fuzzy pickles! Randy
Linda,
We have so many good memories of David from different seasons of life; from Rodney’s childhood at Lucerne Baptist, to our wedding and through the birth of our children. He was a warm and tender spirit, full of joy always, with a tender smile on his face. Heaven is a sweeter place with him there, although we are the sadder for it… Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the entire Smith family.
Dear Linda,Jason and Family.
I was so sadden when I read of David going on to be with his Lord. I was so blessed to have known David thru photography. He was a trusted Friend with a great big smile and always there to help me in phography. I send you love and prayers to you and the family.
Linda and Family, It is with a sad heart that I learned of the loss of an old friend of many years. David was such a great person who was always smiling and sharing his warm love to all of his family and friends. David was a wonderful blessing to my life as a friend in our church and community. He loved the Lord and expressed his faith in many ways. I enjoyed the fellowship we all shared at church and with friends. He was one of the best photographers known around the world. His work was that of an artist and professional who deeply loved his work and was committed to the highest excellence. David was loved as a friend and a dear brother in Christ by many. He will be greatly missed by so many. We know he has gone on to be with our wonderful Lord and Savior. We will as Christians see him again in Heaven. My prayers are with you Linda and all of your family at this time of great loss during the Christmas holiday season. May the Lord bless, comfort, and give you strength. Linda, you and your family will remain in my thoughts and prayers. Tom Goza
I am so sorry that your family had to lose one of your own way too soon. I am a friend of Mandy’s mother. I went to school with her mother, Kathy Taylor. He seemed much younger than his written age. I just wanted all of the family to know that we are praying for the family. Friends thru Christ, Joyce & Billy Britt
Linda, Jason and family,
Our hearts ache for you as you mourn the loss of your beloved David and Mimi. David was such an inspiration to so many including me, and his legacy will live on in the beautiful portraits he created for so many. But most of all, his gentleness, smile, sense of humor and Christian spirit will be remembered forever as he touched so many lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Smith family.
Dearest Linda – You know that our family loves, adores and cherishes your friendship as much as that of anyone ever to enter our lives. You and David (and family) could always make us smile. I am sure David is smiling down on you now and saying – yes, it is more wonderful that we imagined. Peace be with you as the love of Jesus warms your heart.
Linda and family, I’m so sorry to here about David’s passing. Peace be with you and the rest of your family. I wish I could have been there to see you. It’s been along time since I’ve seen you both. I recently saw Vivian and Donald back in October. You and David took our wedding pictures more than 41 years ago. I hope to see you in the near future. Love and prayers.
Linda and family, My family and I are thinking of you and praying for you. You and David were very kind when we had our family pictures made by you. .David and you were so friendly and nice and made us feel at ease when having our pictures made.When I see our pictures, I always thing of you both. May God bless you and help you through this difficult time.
Dear Linda and Family, We are sorry to hear of your loss. David was such a sweet and kind man. Like so many others, his work hangs on the walls of our home. He photographed our wedding 35 years ago and then our children. We enjoyed each session, he was amazing. We especially enjoy our photos from the beach. He had such a kind heart and his love for the Lord was evident. We will be praying for you, but rejoicing in the homecoming for David. Love to you all.
Dear Linda and Family
Our thoughts and blessings are sent to you in love, as we appreciate the loss of your David.
For us, David represented a very rare kindness that all mankind should possess and share with others as David did so well.
Our thoughts will be with you as you heal from his passing, may the Love of our Lord give you strength to carry on.
Dear Linda,
We were so saddened to receive the news of David’s death. We always looked forward to seeing you both each year at the Cameracratsmen meeting and we enjoyed spending time with him. We send our condolences to you and your family .
You have lost a very special gentleman.
Fondly,
Phyllis and Mel Holson
Dear Linda,
There are those whose light travels through others far beyond the time shared; although decades between us, you and David remain my image of completeness. My roads, rough – but my love of seeing through a lens was embedded in me through the eyes of David and yourself. My deepest condolences for your earthly loss.
Fondly,
Lynn Eaton
We salute you for all the goodness you have shared and if the world lived like David what a better place it would be. Both you and David have served not only as mentors in the art of photography, but in Christian faith & grace – sharing with smiles and loving ways. Thank you both. Love you Linda
I was so sorry to see this on the internet as I looked up Smith Photography for Sarah Kate’s upcoming wedding.
David did portraits of both my daughters which hang on our living room wall, as well as a portrait of the three of us in paper whites.
David Smith was a true artist and a true gentleman.
We will remember him forever.
Hello my dear friend, I would like to send my condolences to your family and some words of encouragement comming from 1Thessalonians 4:14 which says ” for if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again so to God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus
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