John Edgar Smith, 78, of Cochran, Georgia, went to his heavenly home on August 10, 2026. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend of Jesus.

Born in Ft. Logan, Colorado, on October 4, 1947, he grew up in Littleton, Colorado, attended St. Mary's Parish and School, graduated from Littleton High School, reached the rank of Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, and received his bachelor's degree in business from Georgia College following his enlistment. He was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence R. (Ray) Smith and Helen Grace Douglas Smith, his brother Joe Smith, his sister Joanie Fasenmeyer, and his granddaughter Regan Grace Cole.

He spent most of his career in retail automotive and wholesale tire sales until retirement age, when he joined the Bleckley County School System as a bus driver. He was a member of First Methodist Church of Cochran, where over the years he had served on the Council on Ministries, was a youth director, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and lay speaker. As he got older, he really enjoyed visiting the various churches of his friends around the county, and had a special place in his heart for Longstreet Methodist Church. He loved his family very much and was a strong example of faith in Jesus for his children and grandchildren to aspire to.

Survivors are his wife of fifty-seven years, Judy Carter Smith; his children, Wendy Smith, Jennifer (Jim) Cole, and Jason (Wesley) Smith-Neese; his grandsons, Dylan (Katie Lyn) Cole and Gavin Cole; and his great-grandson, Carter James Cole, all of Cochran; his siblings Jan Bullock, Jerry Smith, Joyce Hendricks, Jim Smith, and Jeanine Underwood all of Littleton, Colorado; several nieces, nephews, and their children.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 2pm, at Mathis Funeral Home in Cochran, Georgia. The family will greet friends in the chapel after the service.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the transportation department at Bleckley County Schools. Flowers are appreciated, but please consider a memorial contribution to the Dale Singer Foundation of the Renal Physicians Association. https://www.renalmd.org/page/SingerFdn