Thomas Harlon Smith

Graveside services to celebrate the life of Thomas Harlon Smith will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at Four Mile Cemetery in Jacksonville. Rev. Dale Olmstead will be officiating. There will be no public visitation held prior to the service.
After 84 years of hilarious exploits, savant-like intellect and boundless generosity, Thomas Harlon Smith got the call-up from the earthly minors to the celestial big leagues on Oct. 8, 2025. There, he undoubtedly found fresh funnel cakes, no commercials during Braves games and the remote exactly where he left it.
Born Aug. 16, 1941, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tom lived life on (mostly) his terms - sharp, sometimes stubborn and self-deprecating for others' amusement. He had a razor-sharp wit and a general intolerance for bad manners and general goofiness.
Tom was a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a history and English major who took the scenic route through college on the GI Bill before spending 35 years at the Anniston Army Depot. There, "Big T" worked as an electronics technician in many areas including TOW missile guidance. He also enhanced his coworkers' morale with his legendary sense of humor.
He married Mary Suzanne Lawler in 1971. Their marriage was built on laughter, love and spirited debates about literally everything, including who was the goofier one.
A lifelong Braves fan (since Milwaukee days), Tom stuck with them through thick and thin. He also had a long-standing love affair with hot dogs, old westerns and "Jeopardy!". His retirement years were devoted to family time, hanging out in the pool, reading his Bible, working crossword puzzles, shopping at Dollar General and sometimes doing the laundry.
Tom was generous with his time and money. He regularly supported charities, helped strangers and made people laugh even when they didn't feel like it until the very end. If he teased you, he liked you. His voice was sometimes gruff, but he secretly had a very tender heart for people and animals.
He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter and family dinners that occasionally turned into history or vocabulary lessons (look it up and report back). His absence will be deeply felt but his stories, catchphrases and love of interesting vehicles will live on, as will memories of summer vacations to destinations no one has ever heard of. Why go to Disneyworld when you can go to Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula, Alabama?
Tom was preceded in promotion by his parents, George and Susie Smith, and his sister, Gwendolyn Feazell.
Tom leaves behind his wife and co-conspirator of 54 years, Mary Suzanne "Mom" Smith; his daughter, Sara "Stuey" Smith of Eastaboga; his son, Adam "Bubba/Angel Boy" Smith of Huntsville; and grandsons Kaleb Thomas "Bicky" Smith of Oxford, and Chase "CB" Smith (Alanna) of Eastaboga. He also leaves behind a brother, Clay Smith (Teresa) of Alexandria; sister, Martha Turner of Jacksonville; sister-in-law, Sara McIlvaine (Neil) of Seattle; and a sprawling cast of nieces, nephews and friends as well as his cats, Rudy and Pepper.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Jimmie Hale Mission, Samaritan's Purse, Christmas Charities Year-Round or Union Methodist Church in Wellington.
And the next time you hear a good joke, buy a lottery ticket or watch the Braves miraculously avoid blowing a lead, think of Tom. A man so full of character, Mark Twain would be jealous. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Thomas, please visit our Tree Store.