Rita Smith

Rita Smith, 66, of Dawsonville passed away Friday January 5, 2018 at Northside Hospital.

Born April 6, 1951 in Jefferson City, Tennessee, she had lived in Dawson County since 2008 having moved from Stone Mountain.  Rita spent most of her adult life as a devoted mother.  After her children were grown, she was employed by Motorola for many years after which she worked at Ciba Vision until her retirement.  She loved to travel in the mountains and the small town of Cherokee.  Mrs. Smith was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Faye Updike.

Surviving are her husband, Terry Smith, Dawsonville; children, Michelle Cherico, Dawsonville, T. D. and Ron Baird, Dawsonville, Charlie Smith, Auburn, GA; grandchildren, Blake and Taffiny Cherico, Faye Cherico, Olivia Kinney; great granddaughter, Aubree Cherico; sister and brother in law, Rejeana and Barry Hurley, Jefferson City, TN; brothers and sisters in law, Donald and Donna Updike, Greenville, SC, Darryl and Sara Updike, Bedford, VA; her beloved Prissie; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday January 8, 2018 at 1 o’clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel.  Rev. Kevin Self will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 3 until 8 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN  38105.  stjude.org

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.