Luke Smith

Mr. Roy Lucius “Luke” Smith III died on Sunday, November 24, 2019, from complications of thymic carcinoma after an extended illness.  He was born on July 15, 1950 in Waycross, Georgia to the late Roy L. Smith, Jr. and Avis Adams Smith.  Mr. Smith lived in Fitzgerald until 1960 when his father was transferred by Atlantic Coastline Railroad to Dunnellon, Florida.  Luke graduated from Dunnellon High School and Central Florida Junior College, and earned degrees from Georgia Southern College, the University of Florida, and Nova University.  He was in education for forty years, where he taught math and physical education, and coached football, track and tennis.  At Montgomery County High School, he served as assistant principal and principal for ten years.  Luke married Anne Lovell in 1975 and together they raised a daughter, Hillary, and a son, Joseph.  Proud of his children, his most beloved family members were his four grandchildren, Luke, Ace, Savannah, and Hank.  Luke was a devout Christian, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (Montgomery County Sharpshooters Camp), the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association, and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by Edna and Joseph Lovell, his mother-in-law and father-in-law. 

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of forty-four years, Anne, daughter, Hillary Stringfellow and husband Bud of St. Simons Island, Georgia; son, Joseph Smith and wife Frances of Pine Mountain, Georgia; grandchildren, Luke and Savannah Smith, and Ace and Hank Stringfellow; brother, Michael Smith of Ocala, Florida; sister-in-law Linda Schultz and husband Larry of Spring Hill, Florida; brother-in-law Marc Lovell and wife Allida of Midway, Georgia and Leavenworth, Kansas; two nephews, Adam Smith and wife Kelsey of Ocala, Florida and Stephen Lovell of Leavenworth, Kansas; and three nieces, Heather Grant and Holly Shaw, both of Seattle, Washington, and Elizabeth Lovell of Kansas City, Kansas.

A service to celebrate the life of Luke Smith will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Doyle Waller and Reverend Madison Herrin officiating. 

The family will receive friends at the funeral home immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 Faris Road, Greenville, South Carolina 29605, or by visiting www.donate.lovetotherescue.org or to Community Hospice, P.O. Box 2277, Vidalia, Georgia 30475, to which the family expresses sincere thanks and gratitude for their compassionate care.

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