With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of Betty Sue Hunt Smith, age 86, who entered eternal rest on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at her home in Bainbridge, Georgia, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on August 25, 1939, in Bainbridge to R.A. Hunt and Jewell Miller Hunt, Betty Sue spent her entire life in this historic southwest Georgia town, where the quiet rhythms of small-city living, the gentle flow of the Flint River, and the deep-rooted sense of community shaped her character and values.
She graduated from Bainbridge High School, a milestone that marked the beginning of a life grounded in hard work, loyalty, and the simple joys of family and faith. In an era when many women of her generation found fulfillment in both home and community, Betty Sue balanced her roles with grace, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to those she loved.
Betty Sue married the love of her life, Robert Earl Smith, and together they built a marriage that spanned 58 cherished years until his passing in 2015. Their union was a testament to enduring partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, creating a home filled with stability, laughter, and the warmth that comes from a lifetime of companionship.
Professionally, she began her career in the loan department of Citizens Bank, where her attention to detail, reliability, and pleasant demeanor made her a trusted member of the team. Later, she transitioned to the office of Attorney Harold Lambert, where she served with remarkable efficiency and a strong work ethic. Colleagues often noted that Betty Sue not only kept the office organized but also kept Mr. Lambert in line, bringing order, professionalism, and a touch of gentle authority to the daily operations.
The simple pleasures of life brought Betty Sue deep and lasting joy. She was an avid reader, finding solace and inspiration in the pages of countless books, and she harbored a quiet dream of one day publishing childrens stories, a testament to her imaginative spirit and her love for the wonder of youth. In her leisure time, she cherished moments of reflection, family gatherings, and the everyday routines that filled her home with comfort and familiarity.
Above all else, Betty Sue dearly loved her family, and her greatest legacy is the profound impact she had as a devoted mother, grandmother, and cherished relative. She poured her heart into nurturing relationships, offering unwavering support, encouragement, and unconditional love that sustained her family through every season of life.
Her role as a wonderful mother to her daughter Terrie and grandmother to her grandson Alex brought her immense fulfillment, and she delighted in the everyday moments that strengthened those bonds. In a town where family ties run deep and generations often remain closely connected, Betty Sues devotion stood as a quiet but powerful example of what it means to love selflessly and consistently.
Betty Sue Hunt Smith is survived by her beloved daughter, Terrie Smith Burney (Troup H. Burney); her cherished grandson, Alex Burney; her brother-in-law, C.M. Smith; her cousin; and numerous nieces and nephews who will forever carry her memory. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Earl Smith, and her brother Charles Hunt.
Services for Mrs. Smith will be held Tuesday, December 23, at 11:00 a.m. in the Cadwell Chapel of Cox-Ivey Funeral Home, with Rev. Greg Ford officiating. Roger Smith, McCall Burney, Alex Burney, David Harvey, Charlie Livingston, and Sammy Smith will serve as pallbearers. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery. The family will receive friends before the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m.