Gary F. Smith

March 4, 1951 - April 2, 2010

Mr. Gary Foster Smith, 59, died Friday, April 2, 2010, at his residence on Fred White Road in Columbia. A Memorial Service will be held for Mr. Smith on Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Mike Roberts officiating. Family and friends will be participating in the service. The family will visit with friends from 2:00 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, he is the son of Rachel Foster Smith and the late Buford B. Smith. Mr. Smith was a 1969 graduate of Spring Hill High School, and attended one year at Columbia State Community College. He was a long-time truck driver with Pulaski Highway Express and Ryder Truck Lines, and later, partnered with his brother in Wayne Smith Construction. Following his business relationship with his brother, he partnered with Leonard Williams in the construction business before becoming a backhoe operator for Bassham Excavating. He served in the Tennessee Air National Guard. Mr. Smith was a member of the National Rifle Association, Spring Hill Jaycees, Spring Hill Lions Club and F.F.A. He was an avid hunter, and loved fishing. He loved hanging out with friends, coaching youth softball at Spring Hill Ballpark, and playing The Caneman in haunted houses. He was a member of the Church of Christ. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children: daughter, Amanda Rachelle Smith of Columbia; son, William Cody (Jennifer) Smith of Santa Fe; mother of his two children, Donna Smith-Pogue of Columbia; a sister, Anita (Tony) Simmons of Culleoka; a sister-in-law, Wanda Smith of Columbia; special nephews, Jerry LaRue, Yancey Smith, Chris Smith, Phillip Simmons, Weston Simmons; Godson, Gary Barker of Columbia; God-daughters, Cori Beth Williams of Culleoka, and Rachel Barnhill of Lewisburg; and several other nephews, one niece, and several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Buford B. Smith, a brother, Wayne Smith, and long-time friends, Randy Barker and Leonard Williams. Honorary Guest will be Jim Barnhill, Charlie Williams, Jeff Smithson, Jake Craig, Jonathan Delk, Frankie Stewart, Dean Dial, Kerry Jo Stovall, Steven Foster, and Tommy Bolton. Memorials may be made to Relay for Life, c/o First Farmers & Merchants Bank, P. O. Box 1148, Columbia, TN 38402-1148, or the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19, 812 Nashville Hwy., Columbia, TN 38401, or Hospice Compassus, 1412 Trotwood Ave., Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heritage-fhcs.com.