William J. “Bill” Smith, Jr., 82, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Thursday, July 16, 2020, at Pine Pointe Hospice in Macon, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Monday, July 20, 2020, at Arbor Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, with Randy McDuffie officiating. A eulogy will be given by Rick Bostelman. Private entombment will follow at a later date in Evergreen Cemetery in Fitzgerald. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Sunday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Smith was born November 26, 1937, in Sandersville, Georgia, to the late William James Smith, Sr. & Grace Tison Smith. He was a 1955 graduate of Sandersville High School and attended Georgia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia State College in 1962. Mr. Smith came to Fitzgerald in the late 1960s as a consultant with Summerour Associates to help engineer the H.R. Kaminsky & Sons new plant. Mr. Kaminsky hired Bill and he worked for them for a brief time. In 1969, along with B.E. Walker from Ashburn, Mr. Smith established SWS Garment. Together they would later establish South Georgia Contractors and Hercules Uniform. Mr. Smith would serve these industries as President and CEO for their duration. He joined the Rotary Club of Fitzgerald in 1983 and was an active member. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Nelms Smith of Fitzgerald; children: Mike & Lisa Smith of Fitzgerald, Brenda & Mickey Lupo of Ocilla, and Fred & Connie Langdale of Ocilla; a son-in-law, Joe Bonarrigo of Greenville, South Carolina; grandchildren: Vic Cooper, Amanda & Bill Barrs, Dee Dee Cooper, Michelle & Brent Griffin, Jim & Lindsay Smith, Anna Joy & Ross Reeves, Mark Taibi, Jr., Magan Lupo, Jay & Brittany Smith, Mack Langdale, Julian Connell, Will Bonarrigo and Alyssa Bonarrigo; several great-grandchildren; a nephew, Grayson & Tracy Upton; a niece, Fran & Steve Clowse; and a caregiver, Rose McMillan. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by daughters, Deborah Bonarrigo and Pamela Taibi; and a sister, Ann Upton.
The family suggest those desiring to send memorials may send them to Pine Pointe Hospice, 6261 Peake Road, Macon GA 31210.