Mrs. Ester Benetta "Bennie" Backus Smith, age 69, of 458 Old Corinth Rd., Buchanan passed away Saturday, May 17, 2008. Mrs. Smith was born in Fulton County on February 1, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Hanes Backus and the late Rachel Booth Backus. Mrs. Smith was a veteran of the United States Marine Corp. and was a retired newspaper editor/owner. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Smith and a sister, Barbara Fraizer.
Survivors include one daughter, Sharon Elizabeth McLeroy of Tallapoosa; two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas Joseph and Diana Smith of Marietta and Robert Jay and Debbie Smith of Buchanan; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Larry Martin of McDonough and Beverly and Johnny Mills of Douglasville; eight grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, May 19, 2008 at 3:00 P.M. from Victory Fellowship in Bremen with Bro. Sidney Garner and Bro. Brett House officiating. Music will be rendered by Helen Morgan. Interment will follow in the Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Gary Broadstreet, Randy Hagan, Stephen Garner, Michael Lewis, Glen Price and Jerry Weldon.
Hutcheson's Memorial Chapel of Buchanan is in charge of the arrangements.