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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Ava Owens Smith
Ava Owens
Smith
March 5, 1938 – July 22, 2019
Ava Owens Smith's Obituary
Ava Owens Smith, 81, died Monday, July 22, 2019, at Columbus Hospice in Columbus, Georgia. Born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, on March 5, 1938, Ava was the daughter of the late Starling Peeples Owens and Marion Frey Owens. Both parents and her husband Charles "Charlie" B. Smith preceeded her in death.
Ava is survived by her two sons, Ben (Ashley) Smith of Phenix City, Alabama, and Ken (Melissa) Smith of Concord, Georgia; five grandchildren including Benjamin, Nicholas, Georgia-Lee, Lauren, and Kenleigh; brother Leonard (Ann) Owens of Greensboro, North Carolina; one sister, Rachel Owens Tomberlin of Cochran, Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at 10:00 AM, at Lumpkin United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Lumpkin, Georgia.
The Church Service will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2019, 11:00 AM, Lumpkin United Methodist Church, Lumpkin, Georgia, with burial at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Cusseta, Georgia. The Reverend Dan Smith officiating the service.
As a child, Ava lived in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with her parents and siblings. An attractive redhead, classmates named her Miss Fitzgerald High School. When she graduated in 1958, her father encouraged her to be a secretary; however, she felt inspired to teach children. She attended Georgia Southern in Statesboro where she earned her degree in early childhood education and met her future husband Charlie Smith. They married August 14, 1960, and continued to live in Statesboro while the young couple continued their classes.
Upon college graduation, the young couple moved to Cusseta and eventually to Columbus, Georgia, where they both taught school. Ava and Charlie moved to Lumpkin in 1966 where they both taught. Ava taught in the Ft. Benning School System, Bluff City (Eufaula, AL) School System, and the Stewart County School System. Her teaching career spanned 35 years with over 1000 students coming through her classrooms. Always dedicated to her passion, Ava taught Sunday School to children for a number of years. She and Charlie taught swimming lessons at the Lumpkin Lions Club pool. With Charlie very active in the organization, Ava served alongside, also helping with many of the events.
Over her many years as a member of the Lumpkin United Methodist Church, Ava taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and participated in the United Methodist Women's Group. She served as President and Treasurer of the group and traveled to numerous district meetings. A lifelong learner, Ava remained an avid reader in the church reading program.
Ava loved her husband and her boys. When grandchildren were born, she was very excited! She was always so proud to bring them to church and have them sit next to her. When Ava and Charlie built their retirement home on Lake Eufaula, they enjoyed lake life with special longtime friends.
In Lieu of Flowers: Lumpkin United Methodist Church, P O Box 394, Richland, GA 31825
Baldwin Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements. Visit the online guest book on the Baldwin Funeral Home web site at www.baldwinfuneralhome.com. Baldwin Funeral Home, 50 Charles Overby Dr., P. O. Box 394, Richland, GA 31825 229-887-2750
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ava Owens Smith, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services for Ava Owens Smith
Visitation
July
25
Lumpkin United Methodist Church
Starts at 10:00 am
Church Service
July
25
Lumpkin United Methodist Church
Starts at 11:00 am
Ava Owens Smith's Guestbook
Visits: 0
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