Benjamin Michael Smith, Ph.D., age 88, of Clarkesville, passed away Monday, November 18, 2024.
Born in Gainesville on August 26, 1936, Dr. Smith was the son of the late Bennie and Aldean Glaze Smith. He was a 1954 graduate of Gainesville High School, where he was a trumpeter in the marching band. Mike attended Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He served as a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service, using his engineering expertise in agencies all across the Southeast. As a professor of physics at Gainesville Junior College, Dr. Smith instructed for seven years and was the advisor to the Circle K Service Organization. Mike was the founder and president of Smith Engineering Firm in Gainesville for 35 years and was the 1977 President of the Hall County Chamber of Commerce. He was a member and deacon at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and later First Baptist Church of Gainesville.
In addition to his parents, Dr. Smith is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carolyn Elliott Smith, and sister, Lestina Smith Tebo.
Survivors include his loving wife, Judy Warren Smith of Clarkesville; daughter and sons-in-law Happy and Mike Mason and Muffet and Eric Frische; grandsons Lex Mason, Jr. and wife Cassie, Elliott Mason and wife Daisy and Ben Mason; great-granddaughters Georgia Mason, Mackenzie Mason, Maggie Mason and Juliette Mason all of Dallas, Texas. Also surviving are Judy’s family: son and daughter-in-law Blake and Melissa Scott of Cleveland, daughter Kelli Scott Dunlap of Clarkesville, and grandchildren Katie Nanney, Ella Scott, Charlie Dunlap, and Cash Dunlap.
Private graveside services will be held at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery on Friday, November 22, 2024. The family will receive friends at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Gainesville, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.
The family is especially grateful to Elise Purdy, Bonnie Canup, Alison George, and Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center for their loving and compassionate care.
An online guestbook is available for the family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Arrangements are in the care and professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville.
