Coach Bobby Smith

Coach Bobby Smith, 78, of Thomaston, died unexpectedly at Upson Regional Medical Center on Thursday, May 23, 2019. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 25, at 2:00 PM, at the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston with Rev. Herb Flanders, Rev. Dr. Matt Woodbery, and Mr. Russ Smith officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church from 1:00 until 2:00 PM. A private family interment will be held at South View Cemetery. Coach Smith was born on July 19, 1940, in Thomaston, GA, to Pauline and Jack Smith. He graduated from R.E. Lee Institute in 1958. He earned an associate degree from Georgia Southwestern College in 1961 and graduated from West Georgia College in 1963, playing baseball for both schools. He began his 30-year teaching career at Rock Hill School in 1964. He then taught at R.E. Lee Junior High and R.E. Lee Institute, retiring from teaching in 1994. He came out of retirement to serve as the Upson-Lee Middle School Athletic Director and football coach and head baseball coach at Upson-Lee High School. From 2002-2008 he was head football coach of the Flint River Academy Wildcats in Woodbury, GA, where he won state championships in 2005 and 2007. His middle school and high school football and baseball teams achieved a record of 587-159-8, including a winning percentage of .866 in football. Throughout his life Coach Smith coached various sports teams in Upson County including football, baseball, girls’ softball, and basketball. He oversaw the summer baseball programs at Weaver Park for almost forty years. He was a member of Thomaston First United Methodist Church where he attended the Paul Schumacher Sunday school class. He was a 2011 inductee to the Thomaston Sports Hall of Fame. From 1972-1976 he served the City of Thomaston as a councilman and mayor pro-tem. Coach Smith is survived by his wife of 54 years, Helen Middlebrooks Smith; his daughter, Catharine Smith (Jay) Bowling of Milton, GA; his son, Russ (Sandy) Smith of Kalamazoo, MI; his three grandchildren, John Bowling, Ivey Bowling, and Corinne Smith; cousins, Mimi Duncan and Yoland Grogan; and his half-brother, Wade Head. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 707, Thomaston, GA 30286. Fletcher-Day Funeral Home of Thomaston is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.