Daisy Harvey Smith

Daisy began her career in Carrollton City Schools and later moved to Spalding County teaching in Northside Elementary School, Third Ward Elementary School, Griffin Academy, First United Methodist Church Preschool, and, for 33 years, First Baptist Church Preschool. Nothing thrilled her more than to have a former student, the parent of a former student, and, on occasion, someone who was both, come up to her and let her know how much she meant to them in getting a good start in life. Most often, Daisy could remember exactly where the child sat in her classroom just by hearing the name.

Daisy came from a large extended family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte Harvey Gilchrist; sister-in-law, Alice Smith Wolf; and brothers-in-law, Thomas Gilbert Gilchrist and Daniel Wolf. She was the last survivor of 13 first cousins and double first cousins who grew up together in Monticello, a group that made for lively annual reunions.

The love of her life was her husband, John J. “Jack” Smith, Jr., whom she married in 1954. Over the next 30 years preceding his death in 1984, they enjoyed camping across the United States with their children and, as you might expect from the family of a County Extension Agent, growing a large garden followed by freezing and canning vegetables for use later. Daisy also enjoyed traveling internationally and was amazed that a “little girl from Monticello” could stand in front of Buckingham Palace, St. Peter’s Basilica, and on the Great Wall of China. In 2002, she took her whole family on a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Daisy was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and JOY Sunday School Class in Griffin. She was a longtime member of the Kiwanianne Club as well as several community clubs around the county. In 2000, Daisy was named Older Worker of the Year for the Southern Crescent region of Georgia by the Council on Aging upon nomination by the First Baptist Church Preschool.

Daisy loved her family dearly. She is survived by a daughter, Claire Smith Manning (Dexter) of Peachtree City; a son, James Davis Smith (Janet) of Griffin; and five grandchildren, Jennifer Manning Ingram (Cason), Whitney Manning Perry (Nick), Bradley Keith Manning (Tori), Hallie Davis Smith (finance Thai), and Thomas Neal Smith. Daisy was blessed to know four great-grandchildren, Lauren and Rachel Ingram and Ella and Liam Perry. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Daisy was very appreciative of the loving care she received in her later years from the staff of The Woods Senior Care.

Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Haisten-McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, Georgia. A celebration of life will be held following visitation at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Haisten-McCullough Funeral Home. The Reverend Debby Stikes will officiate. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to First Baptist Church Weekday Preschool, 106 West Taylor Street, Griffin, Georgia 30223.