Funeral Services will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Edgewood Hall, 4701 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907 on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 2 p.m. with interment to follow in Parkhill Cemetery. Rev, Jay Bailey, Rev. Michael McBride, and Bishop Fred Williams will be officiating services. The family will receive friends at Stiffler-Hamby on Sunday from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Mr. Smith was born November 30, 1939, in Graceville, Florida, the son of Earnest and Hazel Smith. He lived in Columbus, Georgia, most of his life, and attended Jordan High School, where he met the love of his life, JoAnne. They were married on January 16, 1959. Mr. Smith earned a degree in the field air conditioning and heating, and began his career at Spencer Equipment and Holt Service Company before opening Lonnie Smith Service Company, Inc., July 1, 1974. Mr. Smith taught air conditioning and heating technology at Columbus Tech, and was active in the Engineering Society and RSES as an officer.
His life-long love of sports began at Golden Park, where he would retrieve baseballs from the roof of the stands in exchange for admission to the games. He was also a big fan of SEC sports, especially football, the NY Yankees, and the Atlanta Braves. He was an avid roller-skater, and he enjoyed spending time with family and friends at Six Flags and Panama City Beach, Florida. He could also often be found socializing with friends and colleagues in the HVAC industry at all of the local wholesale houses. He was known and loved by all for his great work ethic and wonderful sense of humor. He was a Christian and attended Solid Rock Assembly of God until declining health required him to watch from home.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnne Smith; his parents, Earnest and Hazel Smith; his daughter, Frances Jeanine Smith; his sisters, Brenda Joyce (Deanie) Weingarner and Peggy Gwendolyn “Wee Woman” Smith; and baby grandson David “Cord,”
Survivors include children Lisa (Barney) Parrish, Katrina “Trina” Singleton, Jodi (Brent) Carroll, and Misti (Wayne) Gibson, all of Columbus; grandchildren Shaun (Martha) Tabor, Joshua Parrish, Aubrie (Robert) Thornton, Reagan (Reynolds) Dorsett, Jenna (Alex) Kloepper, Christopher Gibson, and Jonah Singleton; great-grandchildren Chase Parrish, Gadge Parrish, Emilee Parrish, Logan Tabor, Kiersten Tabor, and Cassie Tabor; Siblings Earnestine “Doodle” Mehaffey, Larry ‘Boe” (Dorothy) Smith, and Debra (John) Mann, along with numerous beloved nieces, and nephews. He will also be missed by his devoted caregiver, Prisca Orr, and his beloved cat, Julie.
Mr. Smith will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is now resting peacefully in the arms of Jesus.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Convoy of Hope (www.convoyofhope.org).
“Mr. Smith was a true patriot who fiercely loved God, his family and his country, and he would encourage all to uphold those values.”
