Captain (Chaplain) William Alfred Smith USN, 91, of Macon, GA went home to be with the Lord October 12, 2022, at Liberty Commons/Kempton Assisted Living in Jacksonville, NC. He was born to Dock Smith and Dessie Cook Smith December 31, 1930. He was oldest of two children with his younger sister Joanne Smith(deceased). He grew up in Macon, GA and was a graduate of Lanier High School where he played football, baseball, and basketball. At seventeen he attended the National Boys State Conference as a delegate and was elected within the conference as the Governor of Georgia. This also afforded him the opportunity to meet then President Harry S. Truman. He joined the US Army on October 12, 1951 and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being discharged on October 16, 1959. While stationed in the Army he married Betty Claire Pierce of Reynolds, GA on March 13, 1952, beginning a marvelous 69-year marriage. They had three children Claire S. Zawistowki (husband Steven) of Jacksonville, NC, Christopher Lanier Smith of Conway, SC, and Michelle S. Gisondi (husband Joe). He was also grandfather to five children Lauren Z. McCool (husband Chase) of Des Moines, IO, Jarrett and Jillian Smith of Conway, SC, and Leo and Lila Gisondi of Cary, NC. After his discharge from the Army, he began his schooling to become a minister in the United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, GA in 1958 with a BA College of Liberal Arts and a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, GA with a Master of Theology. As a pastor in the Georgia Conference, he was first assigned to Centenary UMC as the Minister of Youth and Education in 1955-58. He then became the Minister of Youth and Education at North Decatur UMC 1958-60. He then became the Pastor at Andrew Bonaire Chapel UMC from 1960-62. Realizing that the Lord had placed a calling on his life to re-enter and minister within the military, he joined the US Navy as a Chaplain on June 27, 1962, for a 28-year career. He rose to the rank of Captain, receiving a promotion to the rank on the first "go-around", a feat unheard of the Navy which often had officers going through the process five or even six times. He served as the Force Chaplain of ComNavAirLant from May 1988 to September 1, 1990. He was responsible for every chaplain on every ship from Iceland to Bermuda. His time in the Navy took him all over the world as well as duty posts in Virginia, Florida, New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina. He retired from the Navy September 1, 1990. His awards and commendations include Meritorious Service Medal (2x), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (two stars), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the European Occupation Service Medal. After his retirement from the Navy, he reentered the Georgia Conference and was the Pastor at Aldersgate UMC in Macon from 1991-94. After retiring from active ministry in 1994, he and wife Betty moved to Reynolds, GA to her father's farm. This was place of much joy for both as they were visited by family and friends and Bill endeavored to become a "gentleman farmer". Due to health reasons they moved to Cary NC and then to Jacksonville NC in their later years. Betty passed away on May 24, 2021. She had been a constant source of love, strength, and support throughout their entire marriage, and he missed her dearly. Chaplain Smith was a man of God and a great patriot, with a great love for his God, his family, and the United States. He was an avid sports fan who loved the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, and Boston Celtics as well as finding time to coach both Little League baseball and Youth basketball. He loved the arts and music and was remembered by those who knew him as a warm, kind, and funny man. This was a truly great man who rose from humble origins to many accomplishments both within the ministry and military. Services will be held on Tuesday October 18, 2022. The family will have a time of visitation from 1:00-2:00 pm at FairHaven Funeral Home 4989 Mount Pleasant Church Rd, Macon GA 31216. Funeral services will begin in the chapel at 2:00 pm. Immediately following Chaplain Smith will be laid to rest in Macon Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral services will be live streamed and can be found on the Facebook page FairHaven Funeral Home -Macon. FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services as well as Jones Funeral Home Jacksonville NC has charge of arrangements.