William Joseph Smith Jr.

William Joseph Smith Jr., age 85, passed peacefully from his earthly home to his eternal home in heaven on December 22, 2024. He died at Emory University Hospital after a head injury. Bill was the beloved husband of Mary Alice Smith.

The funeral service will be held at Harvest Baptist Church located at 3460 Kellogg Creek Rd. Acworth, Ga. 30102 on January 2, 2025 at 11:00am. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00am. The graveside service will be at the National Cemetery in Canton, Ga. at 2:00pm with full military honors.

William J. Smith Jr. was born in Atlanta, Ga. on June 24, 1939 the son of the late William J. Smith and Anna Laura Lee. Bill attended Georgia Tech and majored in Civil Engineering. At a fraternity party he met the most beautiful woman there, Mary Alice Echols. They later married in 1961. He joined the Navy ROTC while in college and after graduation trained for active duty in Vietnam.

Lieutenant (junior grade) William J. Smith Jr. served with Mobile Construction Battalion Six in the Vietnam War. Bill and his Seabees experienced trials and hardships as they built roads, bridges and fortifications on the beaches, hillsides and jungles in Vietnam. The Navy Seabee’s “Can Do” spirit stayed with him for the rest of his life. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, the Experts Pistol Ribbon and the Expert Rifle Ribbon. Bill continued his service in the reserves for 20 years and ended his career as Navy Commander.

When his military service ended Bill came home and was hired by Gifford-Hill & Company. In 1970 he formed his own company, S&H Rigging and Erecting. Bill and his company became known for the quality of their work and by their ability to handle challenging engineering and construction projects. Down through the years they built the dramatic King and Queen buildings at I-285 and SR400 near Perimeter Mall, numerous parts of Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia, the AT&T and UPS Corporate Headquarters, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the 53-story GLG Grand hotel, parking decks at Hartsfield Airport and Emory University Hospital and hundreds of office buildings. Bill retired in 2001.

William Smith lived his faith. He was a dedicated and devout Christian. He and Mary Alice were members of Wildwood, Hillcrest and Harvest Baptist Churches. Bill was never content to just attend church, he actively spread the word of the Lord. He made numerous Christian mission trips to several countries. Bill worked with the Gideons International, handing out Bibles at the North Georgia Fair. He traveled to five Olympic Games to provide Bibles and his testimony to people around the world. When he heard of water shortages in Africa, he paid for 20 wells to be built.

Bill was a determined supporter of US. War veterans and a member of the Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation. He was most proud of his work with the schools giving his eyewitness account of the Vietnam War.

William J. Smith Jr. is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Alice Smith, son Mike Smith and wife Kay, daughter Bea Farmer and husband Jeff, daughter Amy Cobb and husband Charles, daughter Michelle Johnston and husband Andy, and son Drew Smith and wife Brittney. He and Mary Alice are blessed with a large and loving family of 22 grand children and 29 great grand children.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gideons International - https://www.sendtheword.org