John “Jack” Barker Smith entered into rest on November 2, 2018. Jack was born in Alexandria, Virginia on January 16, 1931, to Dorothea Haycock Smith and Valentine Whitman Rathbone Smith. Jack spent his childhood growing up in Clifton, Virginia with his 2 brothers, Valentine Smith and Dorsey Smith and working in the summers on their grandparents’ farm in Northern Virginia.
At the age of 17, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served from 1948-1951 as an aircraft mechanic. After an honorable discharge from the Marines, Jack attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1955 with a degree in Forestry. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Upon graduation from college, Jack made his home in Thomson, Georgia and founded Dixie Wood Preserving Company, (now Hoover Treated Wood Products) where he remained President and CEO until 1985. Founding his company in 1955 in the infancy of wood preserving, Jack was a leader in the industry. Many of Jack’s innovations in treated lumber are still used today, and the business continues to thrive exporting treated wood throughout the world.
Serving on numerous boards, Jack was a founding member and Chairman of First Federal Saving & Loan Association, founding Board Chairman of Briarwood Academy where the Jack B. Smith Gymnasium was named in his honor, founding Director of Belle Meade Country Club, and served on the Boards of Thomson Chamber of Commerce, and Thomson Rotary Club of which he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a founding Vestryman of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. An avid fox hunter with Belle Meade Fox Hunt, Jack served as field master for a number of years.
He also loved being a pilot, traveling the world, spending time in Hilton Head, and playing pranks on all of his multitude of friends. He is survived by his wife, Patsy, to whom he was married for 60 years, his three children, Barrett Smith, Brent Smith (Elizabeth Smith), and Michelle Davenport (Andy Davenport), six grandchildren, John Smith III (Charlotte), Evans Smith, Adams Smith, Hadley Smith, Suzi Davenport and Scarlett Davenport, and one great grandchild, Alice Smith. Jack is also survived by his younger brother, Dorsey Smith (Charlene) of Oro Valley, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his older brother, Valentine Smith (Jean) of Nashville, Tennessee. We wish to thank all the staff of the Pavillion (Arbor) at Brandon Wilde for their loving care, as well as the care given by Paulette Johnson and Leonard Hill. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Thomson, Georgia.
Visitation will follow in the Fellowship Hall and lunch afterward in the Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored with memorials made to Briarwood Academy, 4859 Thomson Highway, Warrenton, Georgia 30828.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
