Grady Elbert Smith, 79, of Florence, passed away June 18, 2024. Visitation will be Saturday, June 22 from 11:00 – 1:00 pm at Williams Funeral Home with the service starting at 1:00 pm in the chapel. Brother Ronny Jones will be officiating, and burial will follow in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Elbert Grady Smith and Nomer Marie Smith; sisters, Gladys White, Ruth Denman, and Beulah Wood; brothers, Randle Smith and JL Smith.
Grady is survived by his loving wife of fifty-nine years, Linda Gail Smith; children, Darin D. Smith (Tracey), and Tracy M. Smith (Greg Peters). Additional survivors include grandchildren, Whitney L. Smith (Will), Chase C. Smith, and Tori F. Smith; great-grandchildren, Lily Smith, Harper Smith, and Cam Smith.
Grady had a smile that was contagious. It was a smile that made you smile. Grady was a giver and enjoyed helping others. He never met a stranger and had a personality that would make you feel special. That gift is rare today. Grady was a natural salesman, and his family enjoys saying he made a living “Talking”.
Grady enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and he also enjoyed eating. He loved a good meal or a bad meal for that matter. There were times when he would have bologna and cheese and crackers, and he would enjoy it almost as much as the fellowship.
Grady was so proud of the team he put together at T V C. He would tell competitors we weren’t the biggest, but we were the BEST! Though Grady was from humble beginnings he was an extremely proud person. Proud of family, proud of Waterloo, and Proud of T V C. Often today you will see a Facebook post from former employees talking about how good Grady and T V C were to them and their families.
People won’t remember what you said, people won’t remember what you did, but people WILL remember how you made them FEEL. Grady made you feel SPECIAL, APPRECIATED and LOVED.
Serving as pallbearers are Chase Smith, Joey Wood, Greg Wood, Derek Irons, Deron Irons, and Daryl Irons. Honorary pallbearers are Melvin Box, Gene Dowdy, Gene Balentine, and Dennis Neal.
The family would like to thank the staff at Glenwood Rehab and Nursing Facility for the love and care they gave to Grady.
