Mary Julia Hall Smith

Mary Julia Hall Smith, 92, passed away Thursday, November 19, 2020 at home.

She was born June 26, 1928 in Port Wentworth, Georgia to the late Julia Suddath Hall and Bobby Hall, Sr. and grew up in the Bingville section of town where she had many fond memories of a great childhood and a blessed life. She always said her family was very poor when she was young, but they never realized it.

Mary retired from Wachovia Bank in 1986 after 28 years of service, where she was a personal banker. Her responsibilities ranged from Head Teller to Secretary to the President of the bank back when it was known as Georgia State Savings. Her service continued through the years with First Bank of Savannah and Wachovia, where she was responsible for bringing in many new sources of consumer and commercial business. Her rapport with customers contributed greatly to her success and during her career she made many life-long friends. She served on the Ladies Auxiliary with the Alee Temple Shriners and was a member of the Bethel Burton Society. She loved to talk about riding in the back of a pickup truck during Stand Up For America Day! She was a member of Ardsley Park Baptist Church (now known as Life Church at Ardsley Park) for over 70 years where she was a member of the Grace Fidelis Sunday School Class and a former Choir member. It was at that same church that she was baptized and later married the love of her life, Paul Burney Smith. Through the years she served on many committees, taught Sunday School and was a former G.A. Director. She often reminded us that God is always in control, although for many years we always thought she was!

During her lifetime, Mary enjoyed crafts and hobbies of all kinds including ceramics. She taught classes in her garage for a period of time and won several blue ribbons for some of her prized creations. One of her favorite hobbies was collecting dolls. She never met a doll she didn’t like! Her biggest joy was enjoying the company of her friends and church family. She loved entertaining and was known for her lavish card parties with brunch, door prizes and lots of laughter! She always looked forward to family gatherings and seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren…she was so proud of each and every one of them! Her favorite time of year was Thanksgiving and Christmas when everything was decorated so beautifully. She told us many times that all she ever wanted in this life was to be a wife and a mother.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Burney Smith, brothers, Bobby Hall, Jr., John Suddath Hall, and a sister, Lynette Vickery Tilton. She is survived by two daughters, Debra Anderson (Woody) of Daisy, Georgia and Carolyn Davis (Tony) of Savannah, five grandsons, Paul Hughes (Valerie) of Prattville, Al., Shannon Hughes of O’Fallon, Ill., Shane Gilmore (Kimberly) of Clyo, Ga, Patrick Gilmore of Pooler, and Gary Hennessee, Jr. of Beaufort, SC. She is also survived by ten great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday, November 23 at Baker McCullough Funeral Home Hubert C. Baker Chapel 11AM-Noon. Funeral Service will be held at Noon in the Chapel of the funeral home with Dr. Jon Tillman officiating. Burial will follow Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.

The family respectfully requests that all who attend services wear masks.