William E. (Smitty) Smith
June 9, 1951 ~ July 26, 2018
Born in:
Decatur, GA
Resided in:
Duluth, GA
SMITH, William Eugene June 9, 1951 - July 26, 2018
On Thursday, July 26th, 2018, The Lord embraced his child, William Eugene Smith, and welcomed him to His Kingdom. There, surely, he was greeted by his late wife of 46 years, Claire Davis Smith, his infant daughter, Megan, his youngest son, Wes, his father, Claude E. Smith, Sr., his mother, Gladys Griffiths Smith, and brother, Claude E. Smith, Jr., all having found their way to heaven in advance of him.
Bill, as he was known to so many, was born on June 9, 1951 in Decatur, GA. He attended Briarcliff High School where he met many of his life-long friends, and graduated from Georgia State University, where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Accounting and his Masters in Business Administration. As an adolescent, his parents were active members of Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, where he met his late wife Claire. Together, they started a family and lived much of their lives in the Smoke Rise area of Stone Mountain, where they were active members of Smoke Rise Baptist Church, and made many friendships that still hold to this day. He successfully owned and operated Stone Mountain Ford, in Stone Mountain, Georgia and Heritage Lincoln Mercury in Snellville, Georgia for numerous years before retiring, and later focused on the charity that he founded, When Everyone Survives Foundation, which was established to fund leukemia research after his youngest son was claimed by the disease in 2005. He chronicled this experience in a book that he wrote, “Later” (https://a.co/407CZn1).
In February of 2017, Bill met Cindy McGee, a widow of 9 years. They immediately became best friends and soon realized that they were deeply in love with each other. After meeting Cindy, Bill rediscovered his love for golf and for dancing. Together, they enjoyed taking ballroom dance lessons, going on dinner/dance dates, and playing what they termed “happy golf”. They married in May of 2018. Bill and Cindy regularly attended Perimeter Church in Johns Creek. It was obvious to all who knew them that they each brought much love, light, laughter, and joy into each other’s lives.
Bill was a devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father and grand-father. He was a devout Christian with a thirst for the Word and a desire to share it, and was a mentor to many who sought spiritual answers. He was a beacon of strength coupled with immeasurable compassion. Bill is survived by his wife, Cindy; his son, Sean; daughter, Brittany Stewart; son-in-law Christopher Stewart; grand-children, Maddox and Julianne Stewart; Cindy’s sons, Mark and Steven McGee, and their families; brother-in-law Robert Davis Jr.; sister-in-law Celia Davis; sister-in-law, Carol Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill cared deeply for his family and close friends and will be greatly missed by all. “Later”.
Family will receive visitors on Tuesday evening, July 31, from 6 to 8PM at Wages & Sons Funeral Home,1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The service will be held Wednesday, August 1 at 10:30 AM at Wages & Sons Funeral Home, with Scott Mawdesley, officiating. Burial to follow at 1:30 PM at Arlington Cemetery, 201 Mount Vernon Highway, Atlanta, GA 30328
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bill’s honor to any of the following charities:
Georgia State University Foundation (https://netcommunity.gsu.edu), Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University(https://winshipcancer.emory.edu), ALS Association (https://www.alsa.org), and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org).
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We are shocked&saddened by Smitty’s sudden passing- sending condolences&fond remembrances of the past from all the Kelley famjly to all the Smith family- with love ,Jeffrey&Marsha Kelkey,
We are heartbroken at the loss of a friend that we loved so much. Our continuing prayers and caring for the family. Bill was so special to us and we cherish our memories.
Love,
Bill was one of those rare people whose presence truely made the world a better place. I feel blessed to have had Bill as my friend and he will be sorely missed.
Prayers to the Smith family.
My heart is very heavy in the sudden passing of a good friend. You will be greatly missed, Bill. I will always remember your kindnesses. May you Rest In Peace. Prayers and loving thoughts for your family.????????
We are saddened by the sudden loss of a great friend; a man who humbly did so much for so many. May his legacy be that those of us that were so blessed to know him do as he did and give all of ourselves to our family, our friends and our church families. Our prayers go out to Brittany and her family and to Sean now. Praying for God’s comfort for you now. Please let us know of anything we can do for you.
May Bill rest in eternal peace and his family take comfort Bill is with his heavenly Father. and family. We grieve for his family in their untimely loss.
Words can’t express my sadness. I knew Bill to be a true gentleman, a man of utmost integrity, a man to be admired and emulated, a friend. I have no doubt that the Lord he obviously loved so much comforts him now. He’s gone home.
I began school together with Bill at WD Thompson. Then finished 12th grade together, now 50 years ago! He contacted me a few years ago to remind me of an incident together way back. I couldnt recall it but he remembered it vividly. May you rest in peace until Resurrection Day!
I was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Bill. Brittany, my heart breaks for you and your entire family???? my condolences❤️
No words can reflect the sympathy and care for Brittany and family. Just know that I care for you so much.
Brittany,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Brittany and family. Ronnie and I have known your father for many years and are so saddened about his passing. We send our love and sympathy to all of you at this time. We are praying for all of you.
We are heartbroken over Bill’s passing. He and Claire were dear friends who brought much joy to our lives. Praying for his family and many close friends.
Bob and Jackie Browning
We are so very shocked and sad to hear this news. Praying for your family. We love you, Beth & Jimmy Stewart, Sarah Stewart, Meredith & Hunter Harper
There are no words for how shocked and devasted I am over the passing of such a great man. My prayers are with the entire Smith family. Brittany, your parents were such a role model for all of us. I will miss seeing your Dad at the mailbox. Love you! ❤️
Reed & I ate so sad about Bill’s passing. He was always so supportive & loving to us.
God bless you & give you the peace you were longing for.
Brittany and Sean, My thoughts and prayers are with you. Cherish all the good memories with your Mom and Dad. I, like everyone else, am overwhelmed with sadness and disbelief. I have known your Dad for over 35 years and will continue to keep him in my heart. My Dad, Roy Stephens, loved your father and grandfather very much. It always gave him so much pleasure hitting golf balls with Wes In his back yard driving range.
We mourn the loss of a great man !!!
Our prayers are with his family !!!
Our hearts grieve over the loss of such a wonderful man. Bill was inspiring in so many ways and such a kind hearted person. Our thoughts and prayers are with all his family and friends. We pray God will hold you close during this difficult time.
So sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. He was enjoying life to its fullest and bringing joy to all around him.
Brittany, Sean and Cindy, Our hearts are heavy over the passing of Bill and our condolences to all of you. Our memories of your family go back for YEARs!!! You all hold a special place in our lives. He was a very gifted and observant gentleman; a great host; a man devoted to his family and to Jesus! I admired him for loving and looking after Claire, Wes and his mom so well! I know all of you will miss him terribly. Our love to you!
Brittany an Sean, our hearts are broken for you and your precious family. What an amazing man your dad was. One of the most humble Christian men we know. I pray God will get you though this tough time and that God will fill your life with those precious memories. Praying without ceasing for each of you.
We are saddened at the news of Bill’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are for each of you. May you be comforted and find peace in the life Bill lived and in the hope of the resurrection.
I am shocked and saddened by the loss of a man we all loved. Bill was one of the kindest and most gentlemanly people I have ever known. He was a fine Christian man, who had endured a lot of loss but was able to rise above it and bring something good out of it. I loved both of your parents so much. My deepest sympathy to you all and may God be with you in the days ahead.
Brittany, Sean and Cindy, we are heartbroken with you. Your family has been a part of our family for so many years. We will cherish the wonderful memories we have shared. May God bless each one of you.
Mickey and I send our thoughts and prayers to the family and close friends of this wonderful man.
What a fine Christian man Bill was. He took a keen interest in others and was a true friend to so many. He was a happy person. I loved Bill. Sean and Brittany I pray that the Lord will giving you comfort during these days, that you will cherish Bill’s memory and know that he loved you very much. What a life well lived!
We are praying for each family member and so sorry to hear the news of Bill’s death. Praying the Lord holds each of you close as you grieve and mourn.
Bill & Claire lifted my family at a very sad time in our life. “Later” has been a strong force in our life. We sit in the chairs put in the Winship infusion center by the WES foundation every week. The “Captain” of the W.E.S. foundation will be sorely missed. Sending prayers to lift your family at this time. He was a great man!
We were shocked and saddened to hear of Bill’s passing. We pray that God will provide peace for all the family during this difficult time.
We are both very sad to hear of Bill’s passing. Our prayers go out to his entire family. He was a wonderful and caring person.
Over thirty years ago he mentored our son, Bill Huseby, in the car business at Stone Mountain Ford.
Bill became very successful in the car business and was the General Manager of Mall of Georgia Ford when he passed away with cancer 9 years ago July 8th. I know he will be there to welcome Bill Smith into Heaven.
Praying for peace and comfort for the family and for all who knew him.
Bill was such a picture of a Godly man with a gentle, kind spirit. Always had a welcoming smile as he greeted you. He was a blessing to all who knew him.
Bill rest in your Fathers arms.
Great memories will last forever. We will miss our friend Bill Smith. Gods blessing to family and friends.
Cindy,
We are so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. Although we only knew him for a short time, we always looked forward to seeing y’all at dance. He was so happy and friendly and we really enjoyed talking about growing up in Atlanta and also our connection to Longboat Key! Watching the love as y’all danced together for all of us before your wedding was so magical. Sending our thoughts and prayers to you and your families during this very difficult time.
We are so sad to hear of William passing. We are praying for his family.
Just sad…. Our prayers for the family.
Mr. Smith, you will always and forever be in my heart. Thank you for all the love you gave to me and my daughters and my parents.
Our hearts are broken,our thoughts and payers are with Cindy and all his family… RIP
So very sad of Bills passing. He and Claire were great role models, two wonderfully caring people. Thoughts and prayers for the family as they begin to heal from this great loss.
Our hearts are broken but we are so eternally blessed to have had Bill in our lives for many years. Our whole family grieves for Cindy, Sean, Brittany and their families and friends. We love each and every one of you. Our prayers to our Lord and Savior are with you!!!
I am so sorry. I am praying for God to wrap His arms around you and comfort you as only He can. I loved seeing Bill’s facebook entries and was so delighted when he found love again. He and Claire were in my Sunday School class at Smoke Rise and Randy and I feel like we have lost an old friend. Thank God for heaven, wherefore we have hope.
I may be the only one to call this well loved man “Billy”… He was Billy to me as we grew up on Clairmont Rd and I remember him as a little boy. The Smith family were dear neighbors . I am so sorry to lose Bill the gentleman that he had become and wish all his family peace and understanding from God who surely is watching over you all , and Billy ,Claude, Wes , and Claire
We will miss you dear friend.
I am very sadden to learn of Bill’s passing. We went to high school at BHS but we did not know each very well. However, we reconnected on Facebook and I truly enjoyed reading his post and thought it was amazing how he and Cindy found one another and were starting their lives together as one. Sending my condolences and prayers to all…he will surely be missed.
Bill was always one of my Dad’s favorite nephews. I know he will be missed by so many. We didn’t see each other very often, but I always loved a occasional messages from my “Cuz”. Lifting you in my prayers. Cassie
Brittany and Sean, I am so sad at the loss of your dear sweet father. I will always remember the many soccer games with Wes and Charlie (who also passed away May 2017). Your Mom and I would sit and talk while our boys played. Your Mom and Dad were two of the kindest and loving people I had ever known. My heart breaks for you and Sean and I want you both to know that you had wonderful parents who adored you both. God Bless you always.
I can’t describe, Brittany and family, how deeply saddened I am by Bill’s passing. We were sweet but not close friends during high school. When we reconnected on Facebook, we soon realized that we had very different political views. So what did we do? We had some public dialogues trying to find the common ground, but then took our conversation privately via email. In the end, we realized that we would respectfully agree to disagree. I emphasize the word, “respectfully,” because that was what we both felt from the place deepest in our hearts. I was always in awe of his wisdom and spirituality and was so happy that he found love again through you, Cindy. Please know that there are so many people whose lives he touched, with his wisdom, kindness and understanding. And that we are encircling you during this very difficult time with strength and love.
I’m deeply sorry for your loss. I hope the words found at Revelation 21:4 brings comfort.