Willie Elvin “Bill” Smith, Jr., 82, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia, peacefully surrounded by his family after an extended illness.
Graveside services will be held 2 PM, Friday, April 4, 2025, at Evergreen Cemetery, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with The Rev. Justin McCrimmon officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday evening, from 6 PM until 8 PM, at the funeral home in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Mr. Smith was born October 16, 1942, in Ben Hill County, Georgia, to the late Willie Elvin, Sr. & Mary Lou Crumley Smith. He worked for John Cook Logging for a number of years, and more recently for Ben Hill County on inmate detail. Mr. Smith loved his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his dog, Susie. He loved helping people, eating at the Catfish House and visiting Fernandina Beach, Florida. Mr. Smith attended the Church of the Nazarene for many years.
He is survived by his children & their spouses: Debra & Butch Rathbun of Fitzgerald, Donna & Chris Brown of Ocilla and Denise & Wally Parrish of Ocilla; six grandchildren: Steven Giddens of Douglas, Will Giddens of Ocilla, Joseph Rathbun of Fitzgerald, Courtney Harbuck of Fitzgerald, Maddison Merritt of Beaufort, South Carolina and Jamey Parrish of Ocilla; nine great-grandchildren and four brothers: Wayne Smith of Fitzgerald, Ray Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, Jack Smith of Fitzgerald and Lamar Smith of Plains. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Margaret Griffin Smith; a brother, Leonord Smith and a sister, Hattie Smith.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.