Mrs. Ernestine Burch Smith, age 85, of Eastman passed peacefully at home on Monday, March 6, 2023.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 8 at Hardy-Towns Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 pm Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Bay Springs Free Will Baptist Church in Plainfield with interment in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Smith was born February 25, 1938 in Irwinville, Irwin County, GA and moved to Eastman as a young child with her family. She was the daughter of the late Samuel Augustus "Gus" Burch and Grace Elizabeth Taylor Burch both of natives Dodge County. She attended Ocilla Elementary, Eastman Elementary and Eastman High School and worked at the Eastman Theater as teenager. She worked at the Shirt Factory for a short time and later would become co-owner and manager of J. Willard Smith's Grocery & Gas for over 35 years. She was also great homemaker raising three children.
She was saved, baptized and became a member as a youth at New Union Baptist Church and was also a longtime member of Bay Springs Free Will Baptist Church in Plainfield. She currently was a member of New Hope Free Will Baptist Church in Empire.
In addition to her parents, She was preceded in death by grandparents Benjamin Marion and Emma Virginia Womble Burch and Martin and Nancy Ann Parkerson Taylor all of Dodge County; A sister Hazel Burch Tanner Youngblood and brother Carlton Samuel Burch; Sister-in-laws and brother- in- laws: Fred Tanner, Magdalene & Wilbur Batts, Howard Faircloth, Judy & Troy Driggers, Kenneth Giddens; Her husband of 46 years, Joel Willard Smith, her son Timothy Joel Smith.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy G. Smith; son, Chad W.Smith; grandsons Jason C. (Jennifer) Smith of Dallas and Jarrett M. Smith of Sandy Springs. Great grandchildren Ashlyn, Mckenna Grace
and Carson Charles Smith. Sister-in-laws Odelle Smith Faircloth and Mary Etta Smith Giddens. Many nieces and nephews and cousins.
The family can be reached at 628 Ninth Avenue, Eastman, Ga.31023.
Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman is in charge of arrangements. www.hardy-towns.com .