Funeral Services for Bennie Smith, 87, of Clarkesville, were held Monday, Sept. 20, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Austin Kelley officiating. Interment followed the service in Hillside Gardens.
Mr. Smith died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.
Born April 15, 1934, he was the son of the late Clarence and Bessie Mealor Smith of Banks County. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60-plus years, Kathleen Williams Smith; three sisters, Meredith Pitman, Anna Ruth Touchton and Janna Maril Holland; and one brother, Fred Smith.
His family knew him as a strong, kind, loving, and supportive father and grandfather. His knowledge and guidance was the foundation of his family. He spent most of his retirement camping and spending time on his boat. He was a great fisherman and spent a lot of his time doing what he loved. He was a wonderful papa to his grandchildren. He was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church for over 65 years, where he attended most every Sunday. He will be fondly remembered by his friends as "BJ." He owned and operated BJ's Supply Co. in Clarkesville for over 30 years. He was a member of the Mountaineer Shrine Club as well as a member of Clarkesville Masonic Lodge No. 325, F & AM.
He was the loving father of two children, son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy and Sue Smith of Demorest; and daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Keith Spivey of Mt. Airy; a loving grandfather to three grandchildren, Kassy (Corey) Baird, Jared (Ivy) Smith, and Kody (Kayla) Ryles. He was also the best papa to his great-grandchildren, Connor, Annalyse, Easton, Kynlee, and Klaire. He had numerous cousins and one special niece.
Pallbearers were Jared Smith, Kody Ryles, Corey Baird, Connor Wilson, and Easton Smith.
An online guestbook is available for the family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Arrangements were in the care of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville.