Donald Smith

EVANS, GA. - Dr. Donald L. Smith, age 84, of Evans, GA, died on January 28, 2026. He was the son of Harry C. Smith and Alma Lee Helms Smith of Richmond, Virginia. He served a tour of duty in the Marines, received his baccalaureate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, and his masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He joined Augusta University in 1974 as Director of Admissions and later became Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Admissions until 1989, when he joined Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Georgia, as Director of Enrollment Management where he remained until his retirement in 1997.

Don and Jo were devoted to their family and continued to be very active in their church, Advent Lutheran Church in Augusta, GA and they loved to travel, taking trips to Ireland, Sicily, Italy, England, Scotland, and China. Jo predeceased him in 2007 after 41 years of marriage and his life was forever changed. He met his current wife in 2016 and they continued to travel, visiting Mexico, spending summers in Michigan, and taking train trips through the western United States.

He is survived by his loving wife, Laurdella, his son, Donald L. Smith II, two grandchildren, Kyle Lee Smith and Audrey Kathleen Smith and Five great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Augusta University Foundation, the Jo and Kyle Smith Scholarship Endowment, 1120 15th St, HS3200, Augusta, GA 30912.