Charles Andrew NeSmith

Charles A. (Chuck) NeSmith, of Macon, had his final curtain call on Earth on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, after a long battle with cancer. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 2 at 11 a.m. at Thomaston Road Church of Christ. The family will greet friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Middle Georgia Christian School or Care Building of Thomaston Road Church of Christ, 5859 Thomaston Road, Macon 31220 or Pine Pointe Hospice, 6261 Peake Road, Macon 31210.

He was born on August 7, 1935 in Thomaston, Georgia, to the late Clinton G. NeSmith and the late Carolyn “Sunshine” Snow NeSmith. He graduated from Lanier High School in Macon, and earned a Bachelor in Business Administration from Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia.

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Georgia Air National Guard, and served in “Operation Redwing” in the South Pacific during the Korean War, witnessing a number of atomic tests over such exotic locales as Eniwetak and Bikini atolls.

Mr. NeSmith was well known among family and friends for his amazing wit and creativity. He was a prolific writer and wrote a number of colorful letters to the editors over the years. He also produced poetry, prose, and plays, and had a manuscript in progress at the time of his demise that he was beginning to market to potential publishers.

Perhaps one of his greatest legacies is a long acting and broadcasting career. For over 50 years he graced the stage of Macon Little Theatre and the Island Players in St. Simons Island, Georgia in such timeless roles. It is a testament to his acting ability that, in spite of not being able to carry a tune, he was cast as the male lead in several musicals including Guys and Dolls. In the later years of his acting career, he directed a number of productions for Macon Little Theatre. He came full circle with the direction of MLT’s A Streetcar Named Desire, a work in which he had starred as Stanley Kowalski over four decades earlier. He also helped produce and starred in numerous training videos for the Federal Law Enforcement and Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia. He held a membership in the Screen Actors’ Guild and appeared on a television miniseries in the 1970’s. He was a news director for WGIG, WMOG AND WYNK in Brunswick, Georgia and for several years was the play-by-play announcer for the Brunswick Bulldogs.

Besides faith, family, and the stage, his other great loves have been football and baseball. Chuck was an avid Braves and Bulldog fan.

He maintained his sense of humor, courage and a strong faith through his long illness; and as such was an inspiration to fellow patients, healthcare providers and to his family and his church family.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Bettie Jean (BJ); children/stepchildren, Kimberly Callahan of Eatonton, Kelly NeSmith of Dallas, Texas, Mike (Wendy) Appling of Macon and Candy Appling Johns of Tifton, Lee Fox of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. and Dana Fox of Macon. He also is survived by grandchildren: Maggie Callahan of Atlanta, Mary Rose Callahan of Athens, Christian NeSmith of Dallas, TX, Annalee Appling of Macon, Mitchell and Matthew Johns of Tifton and two great-grandchildren and his sister, Linda (Jesse) Wethers.

Visit snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.