Edward Clay Smith

The funeral for Edward Clay Smith, 80, of Athens will be at 11 a.m. today at First Christian Church with George Dudley officiating. The body will lie in state from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burial will be in Athens City Cemetery. Mr. Smith died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, at Huntsville Hospital. Mr. Smith was born in Limestone County on Aug. 5, 1927, to Thomas Payne Smith and Mable Noblitt Smith. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Athens. He completed training as a pilot and aircraft mechanic following military service in the Navy during World War II. During a career in private industry, he promoted the expansion and development of general aviation airports throughout the United States. He was a member of Pryor Field Airport Authority and owner and CEO of a successful fixed-base operation at Pryor Regional Airport. He was an active member of the experimental Aircraft Association and the recipient of numerous awards for the fixed-base operation and for the restoration of several antique aircraft. He served as a senior FAA Aviation Safety Counselor in the State of Alabama, was a member of the Alabama Aeronautics Commission and was inducted into the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley Allfrey Smith; his daughter, Bama Clay Smith; and two brothers, Robert Henry Smith and Thomas Ronald Smith. He is survived by three sons, Thomas A. Smith, Elliott Cass Smith, Stanley Payne Smith, all of Athens; two sisters, Mary Jo Coffman of Athens and Joan Smith Cheves of Columbus, Ga.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and special friend Nicole Banks. Pallbearers will be Todd Booth, David Poole, Allen Taber, Greg Angus, Ennis McLin and Dwaine Allfrey.Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Davis, Randy Burns, Chuck Bashore, Dyral Allfrey, Butch Allfrey, Bob Tumlin, George Epps, Shelly Dorlen and Bob Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southern Museum of Flight, 4343 N. 73rd St., Birmingham, Ala., 35206, or to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 966, Athens, Ala., 35612.