Ruth Jeannine Haley Smith

Ruth Jeannine Haley Smith, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away peacefully in her home on July 12, 2023. She was born on September 24, 1931 in Atlanta, GA to George Brock Haley and Naomi Esther Alverson Haley. The only girl with three brothers, George, Henry and Charles, Jeannine learned at an early age how to take care of herself. She graduated from Girl’s High School in 1949 and was married shortly thereafter on December 19, 1949 to Harry Brown Smith Jr of Atlanta. During their life together she was a successful homemaker, real estate agent and business owner. But more than her career, she was an amazing mom, grandmother and great grandmother who fiercely loved her family. Whether it was attending a soccer match, football game, baseball game, softball game, swim meet or art show, she was always there with a smile on her face. She loved gardening and her flowers were always the biggest and most colorful and she was very particular about how much water each plant was given. Jeannine was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Marietta until her health prevented her from attending. She was a strong Christian who practiced what she believed. Harry and Jeannine were married for over 62 years before his death in October of 2012. They raised five children: Harry Brown Smith III (wife, Teri Boggess Smith), Lynda Smith McCroan McFall, Cheryl Smith Cagle (husband, Jim Cagle), Karen Smith Long (husband, Bud Long), and Diane Smith Johnson (husband, Mark Johnson Sr.). During her life she was surrounded by thirteen grandchildren: Harry Brown Smith IV (wife, Mookda Nugsiang Smith), Derek Lee Smith, Clinton Brock Smith (wife, Lauren Copeland Smith), Michael Ryan McCroan (wife, Crystal Shearer McCroan), Alexandria Harley McFall, Haley Cagle Watkins (husband, Jeff Watkins), Christian Colquitt Cagle, Lindsey Johnson Toledo (husband, Kiki Toledo), Mark Joseph Johnson Jr., David Alexander Johnson, Mathew Todd Johnson (wife, Mary Johnson), Wesleigh Jeannine Johnson Reardon (husband, Brian Reardon) and Hannah Naomi Johnson. She adored her fifteen great-grandchildren: Jarrett James Watkins, Carys Lee Watkins, Liam Flass Johnson, Jace Bryan Watkins, Jedediah Smith Watkins, Dawson Lee Smith, Davis Ray Smith, Markee Jayne Smith, Caroline Michelle Smith, Ryder James Cagle, Olivia Bird Toledo, Luca Marin Toledo, Bailey Lorene McCroan, Walker Hayes Smith, Adalynn Arisara Smith and Baby Boy Reardon due November 2023. Her greatest love was holding these little ones in her lap and rocking them to sleep. Jeannine was also preceded in death by her youngest daughter, Diane and grandson Alex. We know they were waiting for her with open arms when she walked through the Gates of Heaven. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday July 16, 2023, at the Mayes-Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta. The family will receive visitors at 1:00pm prior to the celebration. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in her memory to Wounded Warrior Project. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Ruth Jeannine Haley Smith

September 24, 1931 - July 12, 2023