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Celebrating the life of
Henry Eugene Smith
March 07, 1937 - January 18, 2024
Henry Eugene Smith died on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the age of 86. Gene was born on March 7, 1937, in Hawthorne, Florida to Henry and Gertrude Smith. Gene graduated from Gainesville High School. He did his military service in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman. Gene and his mother, Gertrude Smith, owned and operated United Liquors, which operated stores and lounges in the Gainesville, Lake City, and Alachua County area. He has resided in Savannah, GA for the past 46 years. Gene was known as an entrepreneur who started and managed numerous successful businesses: the first Kentucky Fried Chicken in Germany, a Salvage business, Coast to Coast Silk-screening, a knife manufacturing company in Guatemala, and a number of other enterprises.
Gene was preceded in death by his father Henry, in 1969, and his mother Gertrude, in 2008. He is survived by his wife, Kay; 2 children: a son Steve Smith(Kim), a daughter Vicki Shoemaker(Carl); grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is further survived by a number of cousins.
A service of worship and celebration will be held in memory of Gene this Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at Chapel By the Sea on Tybee Island, at 2:00 p.m. His son, Steve Smith, will preside over the service. There will be a graveside service on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at The Ochwilla Baptist Church Cemetery located on Highway 21, one and a half miles north of Highway 20 and about five or six miles south of Melrose, Florida on Highway 21.
Go Gators. 2 Bits 4bits 6 bits a dollar Gene will be missed.
- Greg Kelly, Savannah, GA
Loved to talk to Gene, such an interesting life. So generous and loved his Brandi! They will be together again. God's Speed Gene! It was a pleasure to have known you!
- Jeni Ellis-Riggs, Savannah, Georgia
Gene was a wonderful person and great fun to be with.
- Sam & Chris Lynah, Mt Pleasant , SC
Gene was my classmate and friend. We water skied at Smith’s lake house. We called him “bullet”. Not many of us left, but we certainly had a good life growing up. He always had the good car for us to ride in as Mama’s liquor store made Gene the rich kid. Many good thoughts about Gene, a fine man who made it when I heard he had a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Germany. Best to the family. Jack Spencer #15
- Jack Spencer, Gainesville, FL
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
- Celebration of Life
- 2:00 p.m. on Wed, January 24, 2024
- Chapel by the Sea Baptist Church
-
811 Butler Avenue (map)
TYBEE ISLAND GA 31328
- Graveside Service
- 1:00 p.m. on Thu, January 25, 2024
- Ochwilla Baptist Church Cemetery
-
Highway 21, one and half miles north of Highway 20 (map)
South of Melrose FL
