Hubert Victor Smith, 88, of Jacksonville, FL, died Monday, October 20, 2008 at Putnam Community Medical Center in Palatka, FL, following a short illness.
A native of Fitzgerald, GA, Smith had a successful career of nearly 50 years with newspapers in Georgia and Florida. Smith began his newspaper career at The Fitzgerald Leader in 1939. Other newspapers he served included the Dothan (AL) Eagle, Decatur (AL) Daily, and the Baker County (FL) Standard. His longest newspaper stint was with The Albany (Ga.) Herald, from 1950 to 1973. He served as a reporter, sports editor and later city editor at the Herald.
In what he described as “the best job a writer could have,” Smith enjoyed a large and loyal following as Florida Times-Union columnist “Poke McHenry” from 1978 to 1992. His columns ran in the Georgia editions of the Times-Union and were syndicated in numerous other newspapers in north Florida and south Georgia.
Smith received many awards, including a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Jones College in Jacksonville.
Smith was born October 29, 1919, the eldest child of James Thomas and Norma Griffin Smith. A lifelong Methodist, Smith grew up in Fitzgerald and attended its schools until he left Fitzgerald High School at age 15 to help his parents support a growing family.
During World War II, Smith attended Dallas (TX) Aviation School and Air College. He then served as a civilian instructor with the US Army Air Corps in Texas, Columbus, MS, and at Spence Field in Moultrie.
He married Sarah Katherine (Kitty) Biggers in 1942. A lifelong teacher, Mrs. Smith preceded her husband in death in 1993.
Smith is survived by two daughters: Kay (Bob) Pedrotti of Milner and Vicki (Jerry) White of Jacksonville; four grandchildren: Kitti Suydam of Jacksonville; Beth Underwood of Rockledge, FL; Vic (Amy) Pedrotti of Jonesboro, GA; and Mike (Tree) Pedrotti of East Point, GA; seven great-grandchildren: Amy Alexander, Traci Alexander, Jake Brennan, Bridget Pedrotti, Aidan Pedrotti, Abby Underwood and Simone Pedrotti; brother, Gerald (Betty) Smith of Knoxvillle, TN; sisters: Connie Watson, Betty (William) Marsh, and Tommie Nichols, all of Fitzgerald; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Smith of Paducah, KY, and Elke Smith Howell of Ocilla; brother-in-law, Hardy Owens of Fitzgerald; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation in Jacksonville will take place Wednesday, October 22, from 5-7:30 p.m. at George Hewell Funeral Home on University Blvd. Funeral services will take place Thursday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, Fitzgerald, GA. Rev. Keith Goodlett and Rev. John O’Connor will officiate. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Freedom’s Way Ministries, Inc., PO Box 80097, Jacksonville, FL 32239