Roland Columbus Smith, Sr.

Mr. Roland Columbus Smith Sr., age 94, of Gainesville passed away on November 6, 2023, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA.

 Roland was born in Jackson Georgia on April 3, 1929, to the late Inman C. And Gladys O’Neal Smith.  He resided for most of his life in Gainesville Georgia, with a short residency in Bluffton, South Carolina.  For the past three years he has resided at Oaks Assisted Living on Limestone Parkway in Gainesville.  Roland was a 1946 Graduate of Georgia Military Academy in College Park Georgia.  He completed his early years of college at GMA and then attended the University of Georgia in Athens where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.   Roland also served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1953 and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant.  

Roland retired from Prudential Insurance Company after 37 years as an Insurance Agent.   He was a Korean War Veteran and a member of the Korean Veterans Association in Gainesville, GA.  He was a member of the Optimist Club, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Roland was a member of Antioch United Methodist Church.

Roland is survived by; daughter: Rolann Smith, and four sons and daughters-in-law: Roland “Chip” and Debra Smith, George and Becky Smith, Gene and Regina Smith, Gary and Denise Smith; grandchildren Justin and wife Christy Smith, Brittany and husband Matthew Bonds, Brandon and wife Laura Smith, Geremy and wife Nicole Sexton; great grandchildren Ella Smith, Harper Smith, Grant Smith, Evie Bonds, Ensley Bonds, Emrie Bonds, Kate Smith, Alex Sexton and Drake Sexton.  Roland is also survived by step-son Mark Lawton, grandchildren Paige Lawton, Grace Lawton, Audrey Lawton and Lucia Lawton.

Roland was preceded in death by his wife Vivian Harrison Smith, sister Louise Cook and brother Warren “Whitey” Smith and Step-Daughter Tracey Lawton.    

Visitation with the family will be Friday November 10th from 10:00 to 11:00 am at Little and Davenport Funeral Home in Gainesville.  A Funeral Service will follow visitation in the Little and Davenport Chapel at 11:00 am.  Burial will be at Stark United Methodist Church Cemetery in Jackson at 3:00 pm on Friday. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions please be made to Antioch United Methodist Church, 2922 Antioch Church Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30506 or Eagle Ranch, P.O. Box 7200, Chestnut Mountain, Ga. 30502.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.