Marion Kathleen Vess Smith, Vice President of Smith, Brown and Groover, Inc. for nearly fifty years, died peacefully on Thursday, May 24, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be Friday, May 25, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, Macon. Services will be held Saturday, May 26 at 11 a.m. at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, with The Reverend Tim Hemingway officiating. Entombment will be at Riverside Cemetery Mausoleum following the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The University of Georgia.
Born on October 12, 1925, she was the daughter of Lillian Tolbert Vess and Daniel Michael Vess, both of Athens. Her mother was Executive Assistant to the Dean of the School of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at The University of Georgia, and later in life, an executive with the Girl Scouts of America. Her father was a cotton broker. She grew up in Atlanta, graduated from Girls’ High School, and studied business at Georgia State University.
On September 7, 1947, she married Raymond Hill Smith--a Journalism major, studying at Emory University. She worked as Assistant to the Commander of a naval base while Raymond earned a Master of Journalism degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Raymond became a stock broker and principal—and the owner and CEO of Smith, Brown and Groover, Inc. Kathleen, also, became a stock broker and principal. In fact, she was the first woman in the state of Georgia to become a Financial Principal and an Operations Principal (FINOP). She was Senior Vice President of Smith, Brown and Groover, Inc.—now known as SBG Wealth Management—for nearly 50 years. Her son, Raymond Hill Smith, Jr., has been the owner and CEO of the firm for the last 25 years. The firm remains the oldest and largest independent broker-dealer in the state of Georgia.
In addition to her career as a stock broker and principal, Kathleen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She was an enthusiastic member of The Junior Women’s Club, Northminster Presbyterian Church, and Idle Hour Country Club. In the late 1960s, she was crowned first runner-up in the Mrs. Macon Pageant. She loved traveling internationally and spending weekends at her second home on Fripp Island. She especially enjoyed attending performances of the Macon Symphony Orchestra and playing bridge with her friends. Most of all, she treasured time with her family. Her beloved husband predeceased her on December 14, 2003.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Dana Smith Rashidfarokhi (Ali) of Vernon Hills, IL, Raymond Hill Smith, Jr. (Deana) of Macon; grandchildren, Rebekah Azar Rashidfarokhi (Dennis Foldenauer), Dr. Frank Reza Farokhi, Forrest Rahman Farokhi, Madison Smith Levine (David), Raymond Hill Smith III; step-grandchildren, Madison Jones Hobbs (Justin), Cooper Jones; great-grandchildren, Felix Leopold Foldenauer, Frida Adelheid Foldenauer, Ashton Elizabeth Levine; her brother, Daniel Michael Vess, Jr. (Marilyn) of Atlanta; nieces and nephews, Sandy Vess Rogers (Eddie), Michael Cameron Vess, Dede Vess Adams (Richard), Pat Smith (Fabio Fernandez), Ramona Smith Thompson (Ron), and Becky Smith Davis (Don).
Pallbearers are grandsons Frank, Forrest, and Raymond III, grandsonsin-law Dennis and David, and step-grandson Cooper Jones.
Visit www.snowscs.com to express condolences.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.
