David Taylor Smith

Former Hercules plant manager and Glynn County School Board member David Taylor Smith, Jr. died on May 10 at his home on St. Simons Island.  He was surrounded by family. He was 76.

While born in Eastman, Georgia, he grew up in Fort Gaines, Georgia.  The son of David (Deacon) T.  Smith, of Abbeville, Georgia, and Grace Hinson Smith of Chester, Georgia, he graduated from Clay County High School in Fort Gaines, Georgia, in 1958. 

He majored in Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech and formally graduated in June of 1963. He had completed his course work in December of 1962 and immediately went to work for Hercules Incorporated as a chemical engineer at the company’s Savannah, Georgia, plant.

Married to Barbara Shockley Smith originally of Morgan County, Georgia for 53 years, David -- or Dave as he is known by many friends and coworkers -- is survived by Barbara, three children and their spouses:  David T. Smith, III, and Jill, of Greenville, South Carolina; Kenneth A. Smith and Kathryn, of Atlanta, Georgia; Alicia Smith Karell and Erik Karell of Detroit, Michigan. Grandchildren are Taylor Smith, Daniel Smith, Delaney Smith, Cecelia Smith, and Charlotte Smith and one sister, Linda Smith Camp of Carrollton, Georgia.

Dave worked for Hercules Incorporated for 36 years, and he and Barbara were transferred to half a dozen Hercules facilities in various parts of the country including Savannah, Georgia, Portland, Oregon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Brunswick, Georgia. Dave was sent to the Hercules Brunswick plant in February of 1988 as Production Manager.  He became Manager of the Brunswick plant in 1993.  He retired in December of 1999.

After retiring from Hercules, he joined the team at the Brunswick & Glynn County Development Authority after several years of retirement.  With his background in industry, he was a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporter of local business and industry and everything that Glynn County has to offer companies scouting for future sites.  He continued to work there until November of last year.

A committed member of the United Methodist Church wherever he lived, Dave volunteered in each of those churches over the years.  He was a member of St. Simons United Methodist Church on St. Simons Island since 1988 and held various positions there.  One of the projects at the St. Simons United Methodist Church that Dave was most enthusiastic about was establishing a permanent endowment fund for the church which is now a reality.

A dedicated citizen of the community in which he lived and worked, Dave wanted “to make things better” for everyone in the community. To that end, he worked tirelessly with a variety of boards and organizations including being a member and chairman of the Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, member and chairman of the College of Coastal Georgia Foundation Board, member and chairman of the Glynn County United Way, member and chairman of the Habitat for Humanity Board, and member, president, and Assistant District Governor of the Brunswick Rotary Club.

He also worked with Communities In Schools(CIS) as a board member, chairman, and treasurer focusing on helping the most struggling high school students stay in school and graduate. For four years, Dave was an elected member of the Glynn County Board of Education and Chairman of the Board for 2006 and 2007.

He was also an active member and officer in the Georgia Tech Alumni Network.

The funeral service will be held at Apalachee United Methodist Church, 5070 Lower Apalachee Road, Madison, Georgia 30650 at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 with internment to follow at Madison City Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at St. Simons United Methodist Church on Monday, May 15 at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be sent to: The David T. Smith, Jr., Scholarship Fund, Communities In Schools, Glynn County, Risley Annex, Room 215, 2900 Albany Street, Brunswick, Georgia 31520; Apalachee United Methodist Church, 5070 Lower Apalachee Road, Madison, Georgia 30650; St. Simons United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment Fund, 624 Ocean Blvd., St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522.

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