M Edsel Smith

M. Edsel Smith, 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 27th at Oxton Place of Savannah under the care of Spanish Oaks Hospice Care, surrounded by his three daughters and grandchildren by his side. Edsel was a loving husband, Father, step-father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle and friend to so many. He served in the Naval Reserves in his early years. He loved the outdoors, especially spending time on the coast, which was his home, fishing and enjoying the salt water and marshes. Edsel loved people, especially his family. He was a very smart man and held many positions in the oil business, retiring from Days Inns of America Corporate Office in Atlanta where he was a Vice President of Petroleum Operations. He began his career cutting grass at Southland Oil Company as a teenager, which led to a position as treasurer, and later Vice President. He was also the founder/owner of Astro Oil Company and Sales Manager of Charter International Oil terminals. Through the years he served as President of the Georgia Oil Jobbers Association for several years, was a member of the Sertoma Club, served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Commission of Savannah, was a City Councilmen of Garden City, and taught young men in Sunday School at First Baptist Church of Garden City where he had also served as a family Deacon. He also loved golfing, and played in several pro-am tournaments with a few of the great legends of golf. Edsel had an ear for “music”, which he inherited from his precious mother, and passed on to his daughters. He could pick up a guitar, a banjo, steel guitar or harmonica, and play just about anything…all by ear. On any given Saturday, you could find him rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs, or the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, or the Atlanta Braves. He loved doing handy-work, and was a perfectionist when it came to measuring or constructing anything from a porch deck to a step stool. Edsel loved seafood and sweets, especially ice cream and was a great cook, particularly grilling and cooking a low country boil. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Marcia Keener Smith, a brother, Thomas Smith(Diane), his daughters Debbie Traywick (David), Nancy Gerrald (Terry) and Syndi Bradley (David), step-son Mark Keener, step-daughter Kimberly Skradis (Bryan), grandchildren Tia Quattlebaum, (Blake), Bridgett Smith (Eric), Chad Dixon (Kayla), Chelsea Dixon and Kelsey Moore, McCaulea, Fisher and Kayman Read, Devin and Courtney Keener, Sean Shelby and Mark Skradis, Great-grandchildren Dylan, Ian and Leighton Smith, Drayton and Bryan Quattlebaum, Haven and Brogan Dixon, Dallas and Maddox Roach, and Kayne Moore, and another great-grandchild to arrive in May, Kassadee Moore. He is also survived by Austine Smith, mother of his daughters, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. A special thank you to the staff of Oxton Place and Spanish Oaks Hospice for the wonderful care they gave to our loved one. Visitation will be Sunday, January 31 at 1:00pm at the funeral home with a memorial service to follow at 3:00. Remembrances may be sent to The Foundling House Ministries, P.O. Box 18114, Garden City, GA. 31418
Fairhaven Funeral Home & Crematory
Garden City, GA. 31408