Gene Mayo Smith

December 8, 2020

March 7, 1938 — December 5, 2020

Gene was born in Jay, FL to Mayo and Margaret Smith. Gene spent most of his life living in Milton with the exception of a few years. He was truly blessed to have spent 54 years of marriage with the love of his life, Devola Broxson Smith. They were fortunate to have two sons, David Smith (who passed away at birth), and Gregory Dean Smith, Sr. (Donna Smith Lowery); two grandsons, Gregory Dean Smith, Jr., who gave him his great-granddaughter Shelby Paige Smith & Stephen Gene Smith (Tiffney Smith), who gave him his two great-grandsons, Stephen Gene Smith, Jr., and Bryant Jennest Smith, and always spoke of Michelle Kitchens as a daughter.

Gene worked hard his entire life. From running a dozer, driving log trucks, planting trees, working shutdown construction, flooring, and a list of other professions, to provide for his family for whom he sacrificed his time and health for.

Through the years, Gene’s accomplishments were not measured through his professional career, but through him being who he was. He was truly a good man. He earned the trust of everyone he came in contact with. He selflessly put everyone else’s needs and wants ahead of his own time and time again. Though life was not always easy, he met it head on and always did what needed to be done for the ones he loved and cared for.

Gene lost his wife, Devola, in 2015, but he carried on. Even though he never got over her passing, he continued being the head of the family, leading by example and wisdom right up until his passing.

Gene frequently spoke of times long gone and would reminisce of younger days of sneaking into the drive-in theater in East Milton or days when he and Devola would travel with Bob and Estelle Kitchens doing shutdown work, to which neighborhoods he cleared around Milton for houses to be built in, and to how he came by the C.B. Handle “Slowpoke”. He lived a long hard life that he greatly enjoyed.

2020 has been the year that no one has liked. With Gene’s passing, it only makes it that more unbearable. However, if there is anything that came away from this year that is enjoyable, it’s that Gene got to spend thanksgiving with his son, both grandsons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law, and all three great-grand kids all as a big family.

Christmas didn’t make it in time this year for him to enjoy, but thanks to the efforts of Marsha Daniel and April Galbreath, he was able to enjoy the Christmas spirit and was able to know that all his family would be together again, and that made him very happy (along with colored Christmas lights).

Gene has always, is, and will always be loved, respected, and held in the highest regards. He will forever be missed and has left a void that can never be filled nor replaced.

He leaves us all knowing that he loved every one of us.

Services will be held Wednesday December 9, 2020 at Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton. Visitation will be at 11:00 am for family and friends, with funeral services immediately following at 12pm.

Pallbearers being (active) Jamey Shelby, Mickey Northcutt, David Lowrey, Ronnie Russell, Bobby Kitchens, and John Ellis and
(honorary) Kenny Hall, William Faulk, Shawn Whittaker, and Mike Hall.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries