Thurlo “Grady” Smith Jr., 69, of Rock Spring, Georgia, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at his home.
Grady was born Oct. 17, 1946 in LaFayette, GA to Thurlo and Mary Ella (Abney) Smith. He graduated from LaFayette High School in 1965 and from the University of Georgia in 1974. On September 1st, 1967, he married his high school sweetheart, the former Micki Shields from Rock Spring. Grady was a very active member of the LaFayette First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He was also a member of the Chattanoonga/LaFayette Emmaus community. Grady was Vice President over sales at CIMS in Dalton. He embraced every minute of life. He thrived on winning and was a fierce competitor. Whether it was his glory days on the high school gridiron or motivating a client to purchase from CIMS, Grady succeeded in life by putting others needs before his own.
Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Micki Smith of Rock Spring; his daughters, Laurie (Jim) Price of Rock Spring, GA, Annie (Ken) Rolston of Peachtree Corners, GA and Sallie (Mark) McGinnis of Cartersville, GA; grandchildren, Cord and Connor Price, Katie, Lindsay, & Sarah Rolston, Madeline and Maxwell McGinnis; sister, Alice V. Smith of St. Simons, GA; brother, Dr. Gary L. Smith and wife, Judy of Trion, Georgia; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be held at the LaFayette First Baptist Church on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. with Dr. Warren Moorehead, Judge Ralph Hill, and Dr. Todd Gaddis. A reception will follow the service in the church fellowship hall.
Interment will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday in the LaFayette City Cemetery. Pallbearers are Boots Baker, Mike Sauceman, Stanley Ledbetter, Mike Peeples, Alan Little, Lee Smith, Gary Maddox, Marty Brown, Steve Ezell, Tebo Brock, Mike Ward, Jimmy Smith and B.J. Hoyt. Honorary pallbearers include the David Cunningham Sunday School Class and the employees of CIMS and Atlantic Packaging (Dalton).
Visitation will take place at the LaFayette First Baptist on Friday, May 6 from 5-8 p.m. and on Saturday, May 7 from 1 p.m. until service time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lookout Mountain FCA, P.O. Box 280 Rock Spring, Ga. 30739, National MS Society, 733 3rd Ave. New York, NY 10017 or to the LaFayette First Baptist Church stain glass fund, LaFayette GA.
The arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.