08 LC 33
2583
House
Resolution 1683
By:
Representative Keown of the
173rd
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
sympathy at the passing of Franklin Isom Smith; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia lost an esteemed citizen on March 4, 2008, with the death
of Franklin Isom Smith; and
WHEREAS,
he was born April 6, 1920, in Thomas County, Georgia, to Homer Thomas Smith and
Nora Lee Hiers Smith, the oldest of five children; and
WHEREAS,
after graduating from Coolidge School, he attended Abraham Baldwin College, the
University of Georgia, and West Georgia College, where he met his wife, the
former Doris Buffington of Woodland; and
WHEREAS,
he proudly served in the United States Navy as a Navy Seabee during World War II
as a chief; and
WHEREAS,
in 1946, he returned to his beloved Thomas County, where the Smith family have
been farmers and landowners since the mid-1800's, to begin a lifelong career in
agriculture; and
WHEREAS,
the Franklin I. Smith Farm, Inc., was named a Centennial Family Farm in 2007,
recognizing more than 100 years of farm ownership by the same family, continuing
the family legacy, for which he will be remembered for his dairy and beef cattle
operations as well as a row crop operation and fine pecans; and
WHEREAS,
he served in countless leadership roles in both his business life and community
life, including president and chairman of the board of the Farmers and Merchants
Bank in Coolidge; chairman of the board of the Bank of Thomas County; member of
the Coolidge local board of education; member of the John D. Archbold Hospital
Board of Trustees; president of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of
Commerce; president of the Thomas County Farm Bureau, Thomas County Livestock
Association, Georgia Livestock Association, Dairy Council of Georgia, and the
Thomasville Rotary Club; president of the Thomas County Library Board; and
supporter of the Thomas County Historical Society; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Smith was a member of Coolidge Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon
since 1954; and
WHEREAS,
he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris; three daughters and sons-in-law,
Mary Jo and Ken Beverly of Thomasville, Nancy and Richard Chandler of Suwanee,
Becky and Jim Enzor of Raleigh, North Carolina; a son, Stanley Smith of
Thomasville; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS,
he will be remembered for his desire to help his fellow man, his love of family
and community, and his sense of humor and wit.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body express regret at the passing of Franklin Isom Smith.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Franklin Isom Smith.