Lucia Lindsey Smith

Lucy Lindsey Smith was born on January 2, 1923 in Charlotte, NC to the late Maude (Nana) and Jarrot Arren Lindsey. Mrs. Smith passed away Monday, December 29th, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, just four days before her 92nd birthday. Mrs. Smith, a resident of Dunwoody, Georgia, attended Atlanta Girls High School, where she received a scholarship to Wesleyan College. With the onset of World War II she married George William Smith, Jr. and they remained married for 67 years, until his death in 2009. During WWII, she attended the U.S. Army Medical Technician School and served as a medical lab technician at Ft. McPherson. After the birth of her two children, she returned to the classroom and attended Oglethorpe University where she graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree in science. Lucy became a devoted science and math teacher for Atlanta Public Schools. In 1962, she began teaching 7th and 9th grade science on television and designed experimental procedures for the classroom. She became a member of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters and American Women in Radio and Television. Lucy left the television studio after five years to return to the Atlanta Public Schools as a Science Supervisor. A life member of the National Science Teachers Association, Lucy served on the National Board of National Science Supervisors Association and was President of the Georgia Science Teachers Association. She received her Master’s Degree in Education from Emory University, where she also served as a guest lecturer. Devoted to a lifetime of education and service to others, Lucy served as a liaison to Hillside Hospital, the residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children, for the Atlanta School System. She later became President of the Board at Hillside and oversaw the installation of a science and art laboratory on campus. She remained on the board at Hillside as an advisor, until the time of her illness. She also served as President of the Atlanta Outdoor Activities Center, a facility designed to provide children with a hands-on nature experience. She also served on the Board for Atlanta’s SciTrek museum. Lucy was selected to work with science proposals for the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC, and worked with Georgia Tech Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering. Lucy was the only woman on the Georgia Science and Technology Commission for then-Governor Lester Maddox and later the Science Advisory Council for then-Governor Jimmy Carter. As a result of her work, Lucy was invited on a U.S. Air Force Stratotanker refueling mission; entered the Cheyenne Mountain NORAD complex; went down in a nuclear submarine; visited with the hurricane hunters; and sat as a VIP with the press and astronauts for the launch of the first NASA space shuttle. In 1982, after retiring from teaching, Lucy became a founding member of the Assistance League of Atlanta. ALA is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian organization with a mission to serve men, women and children in need. She was a past-President of ALA, and until the onset of her illness, she was one of two active founding members after 32 years of service. In 2011, Lucy was honored with the Spirit of Oglethorpe Award 62 years after she graduated. This award is presented to a graduate who lives by the Oglethorpe motto: “Make a life. Make a living. Make a difference.” Lucy is survived by her sister, Louise Lindsey Bruce and brother Jarrot Arren Lindsey, Jr., and his wife Lee Simpson Lindsey; sister-in-law Bettye Smith Allen; two children, Lindsey Smith Gardner and husband Thomas E. Gardner, and Douglas A. Smith and wife Janet Edgard Smith. She was a devoted grandmother to four granddaughters Angela Carney Keller and husband Dave, Michelle Gardner Talley and husband Mark, Stephanie Smith, Kristi Phillips Rector; and six great grandchildren Riley Carney, Tyler Keller, Aiden Rector Greyson Rector, Jordan Talley and Stephen Talley. Celebration for the life of Lucy Lindsey Smith will be held at the Roswell Presbyterian Church, Saturday, January 10, 2014 at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Assistance League of Atlanta at 3534 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341, or Patriot Guard Riders of Georgia at 200 Orchard Way, Calhoun GA 30701, online at www.pgrofga.com, or Hillside Hospital at 690 Courtney Drive, Atlanta GA 30306. Interment will be at a later date at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.