MARTIN – Rev. C. Roy Smith, 75, died Thursday, January 8, 2009, at his residence.
Born in Franklin County on May 30, 1933, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Eulala Cox Smith. He was a 1950 graduate of Lavonia High School, attended Georgia Southwestern College, Atlanta Division, the University of Georgia, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He had worked for the Georgia Secretary of State. He was an ordained Baptist Minister and served for over 50 years pastoring churches in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. He was ordained into the ministry at the Martin Baptist Church in 1958, pastored Providence Baptist Church in Clarkesville, Tiger Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Pinehurst Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Avery, Hunter’s Creek Baptist Church, Pendergrass Baptist Church, and retired from Old Liberty Baptist Church and Rock Springs Baptist Church. He served several churches as interim pastor during his retirement, including Cross Roads Baptist Church, Hunter’s Creek Baptist Church, and Rock Springs Baptist Church. He had been a loyal employee of Ginn Funeral Home for the past 33 years. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was a Master Mason and member of Grove Lodge #652. He was a member of the Rock Spring Baptist Church.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by a son, Stephen Charles Smith; and brothers, Howard Smith, Herschel Smith and Walter Smith.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Betty Burgess Smith; son, Nathan Smith, Martin; daughters and son-in-law, Sharon and Kurt Hansen, Loganville, and Susan Smith, Martin; grandchildren, Grace McCurry, Hans and T.J. Hansen, and Grant Smith; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ruth and Jones South, Martin; and an aunt, Louise Cox, Anderson, S.C.
Funeral services were held Sunday, January 11, at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. David Wilson, Bill Evans and Bobby Jones officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Wayne Smith, Doyle Smith, Travis McFarlin, Bruce Elrod, Amos Sutherland, Kurt Hansen, Mrs. Don Hadden and Mrs. Lamar Kitchens. Honorary pallbearers were pastor friends and member of Rock Spring Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rock Springs Baptist Church, c/o Linda Haley, 882 Cleveland Mill Rd., Hartwell, Ga. 30643.
Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, was in charge of arrangements.
