Mary Louisa "Mary Lou" Lucas Smalley

Mary Louisa “Mary Lou” Lucas Smalley, 79, of Atlanta, formerly of St. Simons Island and Griffin, Georgia, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2016, at her residence after a lengthy illness. Born August 2, 1936, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Mary Lou spent her youth in her beloved Virginia at her family’s historic home on Cohee Pony Farm. She attended Harrisonburg High School before graduating from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia with a bachelor’s degree. From there, Mary Lou began a long career in government that led her in 1962 to join the staff of Congressman John J. Flynt, Jr., of Georgia’s Sixth Congressional district in Washington, D.C. Not long afterward, Mary Lou’s legendary organization and keen sense of politics encouraged Rep. Flynt to elevate her to Chief of Staff, a position she held until his retirement from Congress in 1978. Afterward, she relocated to St. Simons Island, Georgia and continued her government service at Fort Stewart, Georgia until her retirement in 1982. Later in life, she married her long-time friend, Robert H. Smalley, Jr., of Griffin, and enjoyed many happy years together traveling and entertaining.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Robert H. Smalley, Jr., in 2003; by her sister, Susan L. Fichter, of Alexandria, Virginia, in 2008; and by her father, Benjamin Lucas, mother, Mary Gibson Byers, and step-father, Dr. C.C. Byers, all, of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Mary Lou is survived by her brother, Robert C. Byers of Simpsonville, Kentucky; niece Rebecca H. Waters of Baltimore, Maryland; nephew Todd Hudson of Baltimore, Maryland; and step-children Janet Smalley Todd, of Smyrna, Georgia; Robert H. Smalley, III, of Dalton, Georgia; Ralph K. Smalley of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mary Brooks Smalley Jamison, of Richmond, Virginia.

A memorial service celebrating Mary Lou’s rich and blessed life will be Friday, August 12, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Griffin, Georgia.

Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Rd. is in charge of arrangements.