Walter Swan Smith III

Walter Swan Smith III, age 55, passed away suddenly at his home in Marietta, GA, on the morning of September 23, 2025. He was born June 7, 1970, in Hammond, LA, as the first of three sons to Deborah and Walter Smith Jr.

Walter grew up in Baton Rouge, LA, where he met his loving wife Karen Hill and trained as an electrician. He followed his heart from Baton Rouge to Vicksburg, MS, before settling in the Atlanta area and starting his family.

Walter was a musician and enjoyed singing and playing guitar any chance he got. He taught his children at a young age to develop a love for music by teaching his son Tyler bass guitar and his daughter Kellyn drums. Together they would play songs, something Walter liked to call "jamming". He loved to spend evenings jamming with his friends, playing covers or original songs he wrote. When he wasn't playing music, Walter enjoyed hunting with his longtime friend Brad Galik; hosting neighbors and family for crawfish boils and parties; and spoiling his dogs Henri, Denali, and Celeste.

Walter worked at Phoenix Stamping Group for nearly 29 years. He was always proud of what he accomplished there, whether it was helping to move facilities or keeping the plant running. His family is grateful to the Phoenix community for the support they have given Walter and his family throughout the years.

Walter is survived by Karen, his wife of 32 years; his children Tyler and Kellyn; their partners Kory Bock and Mark Brand; his parents Deborah and Walter Jr.; his brothers Wade and Warren; his sisters-in-law Angela and Jennifer; brother-in-law Mike Hill (Amy); sister-in-law Hedy Pickering (Ray) and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and other family and friends who will miss him deeply.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Ada and Walter Smith Sr. and Emile "Rocky" and Maryann Mayeaux, as well as his in-laws Jim and June Hill.

A celebration of Walter's life will be held at 6 PM, Monday, September 29th, 2025, in the chapel at Lakeside Funeral Home in Woodstock, GA. The family will receive friends from 4 PM until the time of the service at the funeral home.