Peggy J. Smith

Peggy Jones Smith May 4, 1920-July 10, 2021 Former Griffin resident Mrs. Peggy Jones Smith, of Canterbury Court, Atlanta, wife of the late Charles Richter Smith, Jr., died July 10, 2021.
She was 101 years old. Peggy, the daughter of the late Louis Lindley Jones and Pearl Turner Jones, was born in Canton, GA and educated in the public schools there. She graduated from Gunston Hall College, Washington, D.C. and later attended University of Georgia. In 1941, Peggy was married to the late Charles Richter Smith, Jr., of Concord, GA. At the end of the war in 1945, they returned to the family home in Concord. Their four boys were born in a space of five years. In 1966, Peggy and her husband moved to Griffin. Peggy belonged to organizations in Griffin and Concord. She was a Boy Scout den mother for 13 years and a Royal Ambassador leader at the Baptist Church in Concord. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Griffin and a faithful member of the Library Sunday School Class where she was Sunday School teacher for several years. Peggy gained strength through her devoted spirituality and has lived the testimony of her faith. She made herself available to help others in need. This kindness and compassion, which knew no bounds, was a daily imperative for Peggy. Peggy exemplified all that is good and beautiful. Peggy was a member of the Concord Garden Club, the Dogwood Garden Club of Griffin, Daughters of the American Revolution and Griffin Historical Society. She enjoyed playing golf and tennis, riding bikes with friends and taking daily walks with her Labrador Retriever, Charcoal. Along with friends, Peggy found great joy in an annual excursion exploring the wildflower trails and going on waterfall hikes in Highlands, NC. At age 72, Peggy became a trained water aerobics instructor and enjoyed teaching at the Racquet House. For her 80th birthday, she and her dear friend, Pat Strickland, of Concord, enjoyed a five-mile trek through the foothills of North Georgia to the Len Foote Hike Inn, a backcountry lodge and gateway to the Appalachian Trail. Peggy’s 85th birthday was celebrated by canoeing the Flint River with family members. Peggy moved to Canterbury Court, a senior living facility in Atlanta, and developed close friendships, a few who became a group of daily walkers known as the “Walkie Talkies”. As the group evolved, Peggy became more adventurous and began training for the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race. She walked in the race in 2010 at age 90, kept up her training and in 2015, at the age 95, was the oldest walker, finishing the 6.2 mile walk. Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Richter Smith, Jr., her youngest son, Thomas Gerry Smith, and grandson, Mitchell Bunker Smith.
She is survived by Charles Richter Smith, lll, and Lisa Schroeder Smith of Gettysburg, PA, Turner Burckhardt Smith and Judy Ritchey Smith of Baltimore, MD, Philip Baldwin Smith and Jacquelin Clark Smith of Griffin, GA, Sherron Jones Smith of Macon, GA; and grandchildren, Valyn Roos Perini (Craig) of Acton, MA, Burck Smith (Jennifer) of Baltimore, MD, Logan Smith (Elizabeth) of Amsterdam, Aubrey Smith Slye (David) of Houston, TX, Andy Smith of Louisiana, Kate Smith Venugopal (Pankaj) of Oakland, CA, Mackensie Smith of Portland,OR.; and great-grandchildren, Zack Smith, Quin Smith, Sawyer Smith, Everett Smith, Annabel Smith, Stevie Smith, Harrison Slye, Clark Slye, William Slye, Ben Smith, Jack Smith, Holden Smith, Leela Venugopal, and Tom Venugopal.
A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held Saturday, July 17 at Conner Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Rd., Griffin, GA 30223. The visitation will be at 2:00 with a memorial service following in the Conner Westbury Chapel. If so desired, donations made be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Flint River Council, 1363 Zebulon Rd, Griffin, GA 30224 or First Baptist Church, 106 Taylor St., Griffin, GA 30224.

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