Lt. Colonel Broadus Lee Smith

Lt. Colonel Broadus Lee Smith, age 90 of Griffin, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at home surrounded by his family. Broadus Lee Smith was born January 19, 1933, in Greenville, S.C. to parents Jesse Benjamin Smith and Charlotte House Smith. He later moved to Georgia and attended Milner High School where he was active in baseball, basketball and fast pitch softball. He graduated from Milner High School and was class President of the class of 1950.

Broadus also attended Gordon Military College and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1953. He was awarded the highest grade in Military science. He entered the United States Air Force in September 1953 as an Aviation Cadet with a class assignment to navigator school. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in November 1954 and received his wings as a navigator on December 18, 1954. He served with several commands including the Strategic Air Command, Training Command and the Military Airlift Command.

Broadus met and married his high school sweetheart, Sara Agnes Martin, on August 4, 1955. He attended and graduated Georgia State College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1963. Broadus was recalled to active duty in January 1968. He retired from the United States Air Force after 25 years of service and accumulating about 6,000 flying hours with the rank of Lt. Colonel and the rating of Master Navigator. Broadus returned to civilian life and practiced as a Certified Public Accountant in Atlanta and Griffin retiring as President of Greenway, Smith, Haisten and Howell in 2002. He continued to work privately as a CPA until July 2023. Broadus was a member of the Georgia Society of CPA's, the Reserve Officers Association, the Military Officers Association, the Air Force Association, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge, President and Secretary of the Griffin Exchange Club and member of the First United Methodist Church of Griffin where he was also a member of the Mens Bible Class. He was a Georgia Alumnus and an avid Georgia Bulldog fan, as well as a member of the Griffin Bulldog Bunch. Broadus was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Benjamin Smith and Charlotte House Smith, his brothers, Eugene and Lee Roy Smith, and his beloved wife, Sara Agnes Martin Smith.

Broadus is survived by his daughters, Patricia Ann Whatley (Mike), Janice Leigh Casto (Steven) and Donna Lynn Smith (Greg Jackson), grandchildren Kristin Michele Hearn (Wesley), Kelly King Widner (Russell) and Thomas Wylly King (fiancee Chloe Myers), and great granddaughter Nora Wren Widner, as well as his sisters-in-law Annette Andrews and Joanne Partain, and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their eternal thanks to his caregivers, Tammy Bunn and Melissa Waltman, for all the love and compassion they gave to him over the last few years with a special thanks to Tammy who was not only his caregiver, but his true companion and loving friend.

Visitation for Broadus Smith will be at Conner Westbury funeral home on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm followed by a procession to Greenwood Cemetery in Barnesville, GA. Associate Pastor Debbie Stikes will officiate the graveside service. Matt Middleton will speak in honor of Broadus. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Alzheimer Society, St. Jude's Children’s Hospital or the Salvation Army.

Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road is in charge of the arrangements. Please join the family and friends in honoring the life of Broadus Lee Smith by visiting and posting your tributes and memories www.conner- westburyfuneralhome.com .