Dr. Chester Morgan Smith, Jr., 84, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at his residence, with the love of his life by his side.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald, Georgia on Friday, January 18, 2019. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary.
Dr. Morgan Smith was born April 3, 1934, in Ben Hill County to the late Chester Morgan Smith, Sr. and Frances Wester Smith. He moved often during his school years and thus decided to skip the 12th grade, and attended Emory at Oxford from 1951 until 1953. He transferred to Emory University and graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Geology. He then entered The Medical College of Georgia and graduated in 1960 with a Doctorate of Medicine degree. He completed an Internship at Spartanburg General Hospital in Spartanburg, SC.
He then moved his family to Fitzgerald in 1961 and went into practice with the late Doctors John Ed Smith and Roy Johnson, Jr. at the Medical Arts Building. He enjoyed all facets of the family practice, especially the little children. After he married his wife of 46 years, Nancy Reynolds Smith, they continued the practice until he retired in 1992, due to health issues.
He served on the Ben Hill County Board of Health, the Hospital Board at Dorminy Memorial Hospital, now Dorminy Medical Center, and as president of Ben Hill-Irwin County Medical Society for 14 years. He was a member of the American Association of Railroad Surgeons, Medical Association of Georgia, Southern Medical Association and The American Medical Association.
Though retired, his love for medicine never ended. He attended continuing education classes, and read and studied the current medical literature. In 2005 he was offered a part-time position with Tift Regional Medical Center, filling in as a locum tenens physician at several of their outreach clinics. This led to a position two afternoons a week with The ABAC Clinic, which provided a fulfilling ending to his medical career, when he once again retired in 2012.
Dr. Smith loved working with his hands. It started with building race car engines. Then, he became an accomplished surgeon as a part of his general practice. In retirement, he repaired shotguns. He planted and groomed an impressive rose garden. His final hobby was woodworking, a skill he was introduced to as a boy while working with his grandfather Wester’s tools.
He was an avid bird hunter and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed working in his yard, eating lunch with his buddies, going to the GA TECH games, and travelling out west every summer. He loved Chocolate Cake! He was very interested in the Wood Duck, even at an early age, and did major research on the species. He wrote a book on the subject, published several articles in outdoor magazines, and had a successful cottage industry building duck boxes, delivering and setting them up for people all over Georgia, the United States, and even into Canada.
Dr. Smith had a love for studying the Bible and was very active in his church, Central United Methodist Church. There he served in various capacities including Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Finance Committee.
He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a meticulous and compassionate physician. He was known for his sense of humor and dedicated friendship to many.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Reynolds Smith of Fitzgerald, his children, Dr. Bill Smith (Sara) of Tifton, Sue Smith of Fitzgerald, Lynn Smith of Winter Park, FL, and Clint Smith (Angie) of Flowery Branch; grandchildren: Dr. Will Smith, Anna Claire Smith, Ella Smith and Isabelle Smith; one sister, Helen S. Rogers (Sam) of Macon, one nephew and two nieces, as well as numerous great nephews and nieces.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to Central United Methodist Church Choir, P.O. Box 428, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.