- Date Of Birth: November 12, 1932
- Date Of Death: April 6, 2018
- State: Georgia
Carl Eugene Smith was born November 12, 1932 in Spalding County, but before the first week of his life had ended his parents moved the family to Coweta County. Carl was one of five children born to the late Sidney Lanier and Sarah McGlenn Orr Smith. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Perry Smith and Bessie Smith Storey.
In 1949 he graduated from Starr High School. At the age of 17, he was stricken with polio, but was able to take advantage of the Warm Springs Roosevelt Center for rehabilitation and was able to beat the odds and continue a full and productive life. Carl graduated from the North Georgia Technical School with a degree in automotive service.
On December 4, 1954, he married Evelyn Robertson and thus began a story of love, life and family that continued for the next 63 years. Carl’s immense interest in cars made him a natural fit in the automotive business. He worked for R. B. Askew in his dealership and later managed Kirby Chrysler Plymouth on Temple Avenue in Newnan. Carl’s dad had owned a sawmill in Raymond and he never really got the saw dust out of his system, so on April 1, 1981 he opened Carl E. Smith and Sons Building Materials in Turin, Georgia.
It was a great life choice for him and he truly loved the business and going to work every day was a joy for him. Life and hard work gave Carl a great education. He was an astute businessman, but he had a great capacity for generosity when it came to his family, friends and community. His agricultural skills were legendary, and it would be impossible to know how many watermelons and tomatoes this gentleman farmer produced in his lifetime.
Surviving Carl is his wife, Evelyn Robertson Smith; his children Don Smith and his wife Donna, Cindy Owens and her husband Greg, Joey Smith and his wife Tammy. He was a devoted grandfather to Will Smith and Sarah, Kate Goodson and Scott, Wesley Owens, Russell Owens, Daniel Smith and Amanda, Heather Holt and Kelby. He loved his six beautiful great grandchildren. Also surviving him are his sisters, Gladys Wright and Frances Futral.
