William “Ned” Edward Smith, 82, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, March 1, 2019. He was born in Nicholls, and served in the US Air Force for four years before beginning a career as an electrician in various paper mills. His passion in life was always cars and he became a full time car dealer in 1975 when he purchased the Pontiac-GMC dealership in Jesup. He remained a car dealer in some format for the remainder of his life, up to age 81.
Ned’s favorite past-times were spending time with family, fishing and going to the Ocala Jai-Alai. He had the gift of storytelling with his incredible sense of humor and could light up a room with his smile. He was predeceased by his parents, Marion Tanner Hagains and Ray Hart Smith, and his brother, Ray Smith.
He is survived by his sister, Jan Grant of Jacksonville, Florida; his half-sister, Linda Adams, of Nicholls; and half-brother, Marcus Hagains, of Douglas. He is also survived by his daughters, Kathy Smith Magnuson (Steve) of Lady Lake, Florida, Ellen Smith Rowell (Ricky) of Douglas, Audrey Smith Ballin (Doug) of Apopka, Florida and Elizabeth Smith Coer, of Jesup; and by his six grandchildren and one great grandchild, Nathan Magnuson, of Jacksonville, Florida, Brandon Massey, of Jesup, Kyle Magnuson, of Jacksonville, Florida, Ben Coer, of Jesup, Dalton Ballin, of Apopka, Florida, Blair Ballin, of Apopka, Florida, and Blake Massey, of Jesup.
Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 8, 2019, at Sims Funeral Home, 201 N Peterson Ave, Douglas, Georgia, with family visitation from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, and public visitation from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Interment will be at Meeks Cemetery in Nicholls, Georgia. Active pallbearers will be Grant Lewis, Carson Flowers, Art Mallard, John Conner, Cliff Woods and DeWayne Ogden.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.