The Honorable Russell William “Rusty” Smith, Chief Superior Court Judge of the Mountain Judicial Circuit, passed away on January 28th, 2025. He was 61. Cause for his death has not been offically released.
An obituary release from Acree-Davis Funeral Home in Stephens County says Judge Smith was born in Atlanta, Georgia on July 3rd, 1963, graduated from Milton High School, Valdosta State University, and received his Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University College of Law in 1989.
Smith was a partner at Sanders, Smith, and Ranck from 1993-2010, was the Stephens County Attorney from 2002-2007 and was appointed Judge of Superior Court, Mountain Judicial Circuit by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2010, serving in that position until his passing on Tuesday.
In his time on the Mountain Circuit bench, Judge Smith established and continued to preside over the Accountability Court programs in the Mountain Judicial Circuit.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mary Williams Smith, one daughter, one son and many extended family members.
Funeral Services are planned for Saturday February 1, 2025, at St. Matthias Episcopal church, through Acree-Davis Funeral Home. Judge Smith's full obituary can be found elsewhere on our website at AccessWDUN.
