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Billy Smith Obituary
Billy G. Smith, 81, of Tallahassee, passed away Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House at Big Bend Hospice.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, EST, Tuesday, November 27 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Tallahassee. Interment, with military honors will follow at Tallahassee Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service, from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM Tuesday at the church.
Gifts in memory of Mr. Smith may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308; or to Fellowship Baptist Church (for the new fellowship hall), 3705 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Mr. Smith was a native of Webb, Alabama and a longtime resident of Tallahassee. He was a 1949 graduate of Bay High School in Panama City and was also a graduate of the Florida Highway Patrol Academy. Following graduation he joined the Florida Highway Patrol in 1953 and faithfully served until retiring in 2010.
During the period from 1964 until the season of 2011 Major Smith provided security for the head football coach at Florida State University; a period that spanned from the days of Coach Bill Peterson to Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher.
He was also a Korean War veteran of the United States Air Force and was a longtime member of Fellowship Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon for many years. The members of his Fisherman's Sunday School Class will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jeanette P. Smith of Tallahassee; his son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Alisa Smith of Crawfordville; his daughter and son-in-law, Terri S. and Richard Brown of Tallahassee; his sister, Othel Sanders of Panama City; and his brother, Larry Smith of Pace. Also surviving are two grandsons, Corey Smith of Crawfordville and Brandon Boggis of Tallahassee.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Billy Smith
John Peaden
November 19, 2022
True Southern Gentleman, whom I miss. Kind and thoughtful in his professional and personal life. Billy and Coach Bowden certainly are making Heaven an even better place. Your friend.
John Peaden
Pensacola
John Peaden
November 19, 2021
Billy I certainly miss talking with you and see your smile. What a person and we really think about you all the time. You and Coach behave yourselves and God always be with you. Want a great Legacy you both left us. RIP.
Jane Newsome
December 29, 2012
Will always remember Officer Smith very fondly and miss him terribly. I always remember where you saw Coach Bowden, you saw officer Smith. It did not appear to be just a job to him but a true and deep friendship with Coach Bowden. My thoughts and prayers are with your family, may God bless all of you.
Lt. Rob Schoonover
December 2, 2012
My deepest sympathy to the family. I had the privilege to work with Billy each time FSU came to Jacksonville. I found out about Major after he passed. I would have been at the service..He was a special person.. He will be missed.
November 30, 2012
Jeanette, I was saddened to read about your Billy and send my love and my deepest sympathy to you and to your family. I have such pleasant memories of you in our days at Florida State and of Billy with Bobby and the boys! Bobby Yon
Libby Clark
November 30, 2012
Our family will always remember Major Smith. We live in Maryland and looked forward to when the FSU football team came to play the Terps. My younger son had his picture taken with Office Smith each year that the FSU group came to Maryland. I even have a picture of the two of them after my son graduated from college. I am very saddened to hear that this fine man has passed away. Apparently he was with Coach Peterson when I was a student at FSU. May God bless you and your family at this time.
November 29, 2012
Steve, i hope you remember me my name is Frank lobelsky, your dad was a great guy from the days i knew him as an FSU football EQ manager until i became an FDLE SA 26 years ago. He always treated me like i was another son, i will miss him.
Brad Fojtik
November 28, 2012
Billy Smith exemplified southern grace, charm, and being a gentleman. In 1982 I used to ride with him to Thomasville with the team on Friday nights before home games. Now after 26 years of my own law enforcement career I realize he was a true mentor; not only for me, but hundreds of ball players and thousands of FSU students. God bless him and his family.
Ronnie Boyce
November 27, 2012
Rest in Peace Major Billy Smith. You did your job and did it exceptionally well indeed. I was proud to have known you and to call you a friend. You set a fine example of what a Law Enforcement Officer should be in many ways. You will be missed at the retired LEO meeting on Tuesdays no doubt. Most were FHP folks. To the Smith family, God Bless you all and have peace in knowing Billy Smith has moved to the next level and will be watching over you with protective eyes. He is now with our Father who art in Heaven no doubt!
Robert Martin, FHP (Ret)
November 27, 2012
Farewell to an old friend. He would always leave a FSU "souvenir" in the FHP station in Gainesville, when FSU played UF there. Lord love him. Thinking of you, Larry, and the family.
Shirley Beavers
November 27, 2012
Steve so sorry for your loss,We will be thinking about you and your family at this time of Great sorrow Take care.Sure do miss visiting with you on South Monroe..
Kelly Bryant
November 27, 2012
Austin and I send our sympathies, Brandon. I bet he was a special grandfather.
Mack & Ann Moore
November 27, 2012
Jeanette you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We were sorry to hear of your loss.
Kim Smith Davis
November 27, 2012
Jeanette, Steve, and Terri,
I have such fond memories of Billy and all of you from the time we lived in Tallahassee and beyond. We had some great fun camping, hunting Easter eggs, and having Sunday picnics at the Indian Mounds. Those were such sweet years at Fellowship. My husband and daughters feel as though they knew him, too, because we enjoyed watching him on Saturdays as the Noles took the field. It was always so exciting to see him, and it felt as though he was still close by. I know he will be missed by so many. You are in my constant thoughts and prayers. I thank God that our families crossed paths. Much love to you and your families.
Tammy Schappaugh Hamm
November 27, 2012
Mr. Billy was like a second daddy to me as a child, being as Terri and I were inseparable. Every FSU game I watched, I let everyone I was with know that that was my childhood best friend's daddy. Terri, although it has been many years, I still love you like a sister. Mrs. Jeannette, Terri, Steve, and family, I am so sorry for your loss and I carry each and everyone of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Terri Belanger
November 27, 2012
I grew up watching Billy and Bobby together and then got to go to Florida State. What a gentlemen and a true Seminole. God Bless Billy and all his loved ones.
Mary Susan
November 27, 2012
I'm going to miss our visits together and the wonderful stories we shared.
Jamey Westbrook
November 26, 2012
Mrs. Smith and family,
Major Smith exemplified what it meant to be a gentleman. He was the type of person you want your son to grow up to be. By his conduct and standards, he created respect for the Highway Patrol.
I am honored to have known and associated with him.
My sincere sympathy,
November 26, 2012
God Bless you and your family. He was always a presence on the sideline and was very much a part of FSU football.
James & Kitty Mooneyham Malone Fl
Don West
November 26, 2012
Heaven has gained a faithful servant. Billy was a true southern gentleman who will be greatly missed my his family and friends. My condolences are expressed to all his family members and especially to his brother Larry. God Bless!
Buddy Harper
November 26, 2012
Mr. Smith will be missed by All. Especially the FSU football team. He is definately on another team in heaven, as to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Well done thy Faithful Servant.
Gwen Joyner
November 26, 2012
Our prayers for peace and comfort at this time of loss. We remember with love the good times our families shared.
Christine Chapman, Gary, Dit, and Sam and our families
Gary Chapman
November 26, 2012
Jeanette -- Our family has such fond memories of times together during the 60's-70's in Tallahassee and at Fellowship BC. I best remember Bill for giving me my driver's test as a teen. It was good to talk with him again in Blacksburg a few years ago when FSU played Va. Tech. Will miss him on the FSU sideline. Just know our prayers are with you and your family.
Michael Knowles
November 26, 2012
May God Bless you in this time.
November 26, 2012
sgt, smith was agreat person to work with at ddl will mish greatly one of a kind mary keel daughtrey
Carl Chasteen
November 26, 2012
Billy was my first boss, mentor, and friend when I moved here in 1992. He taught me much and will be missed.
Gordon LaMaster
November 25, 2012
A true gentelman.
Elaine Keel-Horton
November 25, 2012
My prayers go to Sgt. Smiths family. (I knew him as Sgt. Smith when my mom Mary Keel, worked at DDL in Tallahassee.) He was a true gentleman as well as an exceptional FPH tpr. I'm so sorry for your loss. He willbe greatly missed. Sgt Smith rest now , you have earned your wings......
November 25, 2012
Jeanette, so sorry to hear about Billy. You have often been in my mind and heart. My memories go way back...My heart and thoughts are with you. I know how much you will miss him, because I know how much you meant to each other. God bless. Mildred Collinsworth Gresham
Mike & Michele Husfelt
November 25, 2012
We are saddened to hear the news of Billy's home going.
We graduated from FSU in the mid 80s and Billy and Jeanette were our "adopted parents" at Fellowship.
Although we left Tallahassee for seminary and then 19 years so far in the military chaplaincy, no matter where in the world we were living, we always loved seeing Billy during the games on TV; it made us feel connected to Fellowship and FSU and like we were back home. We also appreciate all the photos and footballs he had signed for us:)
Thank you, Billy and Jeanette, for your investment in our lives.
Gene Smith
November 25, 2012
To our friend Jeanette and the entire family we extend heartfelt sympathy. Billy was a fine man and a role model for all who were privileged to know him and call him friend. He was a strong man and a strong Christian. It was our good fortune to know and worship with him and his family at Fellowship for many years. Rest well, good and faithful servant.
Steve Edwards and family
November 25, 2012
Please accept our sincere condolences.
Jesse Lovett
November 25, 2012
Billy Smith was a true gentleman and exemplified what a real law enforcement officer should be. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family.
John Peaden
November 25, 2012
Billy was a very special person and friend to me. Heaven has a new angel and ambassador. I will always remember Billy.
Go Noles. God bless you.
John Peaden
Susan Elliott Muchow
November 25, 2012
RIP Sargent Smith.
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