J. Frank Smith Jr.

November 12, 1931 – October 2nd, 2010

Celebration of Life services for J. Frank Smith, Jr., 78, are scheduled for 11:00am on Friday October 8th, 2010 at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta with The Reverend Emeritus Robert F. Sims and The Reverend Tim Smith officiating. Mr. Smith died peacefully Saturday October 2, 2010. Mr. Smith was born and raised in Columbus, GA but lived most of his adult life in Atlanta, where he held very successful careers in business, finance and information technology, enjoying a purpose driven life for all of his years. He was a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology Class of 1955 in Industrial Management, a fraternity brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and served as fraternity president. Mr. Smith was a highly dedicated alumnus and held a strong and devoted conviction to Georgia Tech for what a significant contribution it had made to his life personally. As an alumnus he continued his dedication to Georgia Tech where he served in many capacities including President of the GT National Alumni Association, Trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by Tech’s College of Management. Additionally, he served as Chair of the Georgia Tech Facilities Corporation, and Chairman of The University Financing Foundation.

Mr. Smith enjoyed executive sales and management careers with IBM, and was awarded for many years the coveted IBM 100 Percent Club awards. In the early 70’s he was one of the visionary founders of Computer Management, Inc., an information systems company focused on facilities management involving mainframe computer management operations and software development. Recognizing that many businesses did not have the internal expertise to run high end data processing for mainframe computers, he was a pioneer in the concept of data center facilities management better known today as Outsourcing. He later went on to hold leading executive sales positions in information technology with American Software and General Electric. Continuing his visionary business and leadership abilities, he co-founded The University Financing Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping and enabling universities & colleges obtain capital funding for campus development projects.

Mr. Smith additionally served many distinguished years of community and public service. During the 70’s he served as a board member of the Atlanta Public Schools, Emory University Board of Visitors, President of the Northside Kiwanis Club, Board Member for Citizens for Better Government, Chairman of the Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA, Director and Vice President of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and Trustee of the JD Rhodes Foundation.

He was a faithful and active member of The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer where he served in numerous leadership positions including four terms on Church Council, Church Treasurer for eight years and Honorary Life Member of the Congregational Council. He was also a member of the Capital City Club and The Commerce Club.

Married for 56 years he is survived by his wife Kathy of Atlanta, sister Beverly Smith Teague (Webster) of Valdosta, GA, his two sons, (Jeff) John Frank Smith III, (Karen) of Marietta, GA, along with son Scott Smith of Atlanta, GA, and grandchildren Tyler Scott Smith, John Frank Smith IV, Savannah Alison Smith, Louise King Smith, and Sarah Charles Smith, and his devoted caregiver Eva Owens who cared for “Mr. J”.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Memorial Fund, 731 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308, or the Georgia Tech Foundation, 760 Spring St., Atlanta GA 30308. Following the service the family will receive friends in the Sims Atrium. Additional parking will be available in the LANIER Parking Lot next to the church, entrance on 3rd Street.

Arrangements under the direction of H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill in Atlanta, GA.