James Donald "JD" Smith

Taylor Funeral Home of Waynesboro announces the death and funeral service of Mr. James Donald “J.D.” Smith, age 89, of 605 West Fourth Street died Monday morning, October 3, 2016, at University Hospital. 

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 2:00 PM in the Waynesboro First Baptist Church with Rev. Mark Phillips and Mr. Bernard Martin officiating. Entombment will be in the Burke Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be George DeLoach, Walter P. Degenhardt, Bill Tinley, Walton “Bud” North, Logan Wilson, Irving Branham, Marshall Branham, and Larry Smith. Honorary pallbearers include Jimmy Barefield, Jim Reeves, Jim Williams, Ronald Smith, Veroy Canady, Larry Canady, Ricky Smith, Mike Canady, Greg Coursey, Sr., Johnny Jenkins and all members of the American Legion Post 120 and members of the Waynesboro Rotary Club.

A native of Johnson County, Georgia, J.D. was the son of the late John Perry Smith & Dessie Pope Smith. He was a United States Navy Veteran serving in World War II aboard the USS. Randolph CV-15. Mr. Smith received three degrees from the University of Georgia. He moved to Waynesboro in 1964 as Principal of Waynesboro High School and was later elected as Burke County School Superintendent. He spent more than 40 years in education. He was a past president of the Georgia High School Association. The J.D. Smith Auditorium at Burke County High School was named in his honor. J.D. was very proud of the J.D. Smith Scholarship Program that he started in 1978. He was director of the Drug Free Burke Organization, past President of the Waynesboro Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and past Commander of the Waynesboro American Legion Post 120. J.D. was a long time member of Waynesboro Baptist Church. 

J.D. was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Mrs. Doris Canady Smith of Waynesboro, daughter, Kimberly Ann (Ricky) Wilson of Hartwell, GA, son, Timothy Donald & Sandy Smith of Adrian, GA, 4 grandchildren, including Brandon R. Smith of Atlanta, Jenna Lauren Brown of Waynesboro, Brady & Erika Wilson of Hartwell, and Logan Wilson of Hartwell. 

The family will receive friends October, 5 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the James D. Smith Rotary Scholarship Fund. 

Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Care 842 N. Liberty Street, Waynesboro 706-551-5100 is in charge of arrangements.

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