George Thomas Smith

George Thomas Smith, 86, of 134 Poole Road, Butler, Georgia husband of Mary Virginia Cleek Smith passed away Friday, July 26, 2013 at his home. Born February 20, 1927 in Elbert County, Georgia to the late Christopher Thomas Smith and Winnie Snellings Smith. After graduating high school George moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a printer. In Washington he met and married Mary Virginia Cleek of Hot Springs, Virginia. They returned to Atlanta, Georgia where they lived and worked. George continued working as a printer, however he had a passion for farming that led them to Jonesboro, Georgia and then to Digby, Georgia. In 1973 he retired from printing and began his dream of farming full-time in Taylor County, Georgia. In 1978 George was joined by his son Thomas where they raised cattle and specialized in growing grain and grass seeds. Together they built a certified Seed Cleaning Service that still operates to this day servicing the needs of farmers for Georgia, Florida and Alabama specializing in grass, grain and clover seed cleaning. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 66 years Mary Virginia Cleek Smith of Butler, Georgia; son Thomas H. Smith of Butler, Georgia; daughters and sons-in-law Janet and Mark Thomas of Warner Robbins, Georgia; Pam J. Smith and Ron Ruppert of Henderson, Nevada; sisters Winnie Mae Fox and Irene Butler both of Elberton, Georgia; grandsons Christopher Smith of Reynolds, Georgia; Ian Ruppert of Henderson, Nevada and Jonas Thomas of Warner Robbins, Georgia; granddaughters Lynda White of Houston, Texas; Jenny Thomas, Sara Thomas, Mary Thomas all of Warner Robbins, Georgia and Elizabeth Mateyko of Arnold, Missouri; great-grandchildren Benjamin and Cotton White of Houston, Texas; Freesia Smith and Mae Della Vecchio of Reynolds, Georgia; Skyler, Madison, George, and Samantha Mateyko of Arnold, Missouri. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter Velma Smith, brother Julius Smith, sisters Kathleen Trippe, Julia Maples and Elenor Wilson. Funeral services to celebrate his life will be held 3PM, Sunday, July 28 in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home. Interment will be in Fortsonia Community Cemetery. The Smith family is at the home of Irene Butler 2220 Hudson Road, Elberton and will receive friends from 2-3PM just prior to the service at Berry Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in his honor to Fortsonia Community Cemetery 2616 Washington Highway Elberton, Georgia 30635. Share your stories and photos in Mr. Smith's Book of Memories online at www.berryfh.com. Berry Funeral Home & Crematory, Elberton is respectfully in charge of the arrangements for George Thomas Smith.