Sampie Ward Smith

No more “Sampie” tests, kids. On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Sampie Ward Smith passed on to history. After some three decades with the Liberty County School System, it is he who stands for examination by his Lord and Savior.

Sampie was born in Douglas, Georgia on August 10, 1947 to the late, Sampie T. and Geneva Ward Smith.  When he was one year old his dad decided to own a general store in Denton. Clerking in his dad’s store from his youth, he learned to be industrious. Sampie was educated at Brooker-Denton Elementary then went on to graduate from Jeff Davis County High with honors and then on to South Georgia and Georgia Southern. He majored in history and minored in political science.

Upon graduation from Southern, Sampie followed in the footsteps of several family members including his father and sister. On July 3rd, 1969 he joined the U. S. Army and after being trained in combat and combat engineering, he went to OCS. In May ‘70 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant as a military intelligence officer. After additional training in Baltimore, he was sent to his duty station at Fort Stewart. He was a 1st Lieutenant when he left active duty but he was asked to return to service by the Georgia National Guard. Sampie served as an artillery officer in Savannah and did summer camps at Stewart as an observation/safety officer. 

Sampie found further education necessary and obtained his Master’s of Education and a Juris Doctorate degree. Once more he was called for military service and became a Transportation Officer in the U. S. Army Reserve in Waycross where he eventually became the company commander and after a few years as a captain he was promoted to major and sent to Jacksonville’s 67th Transportation Group. When it was reformed, Sampie returned to his love, teaching.

Upon leaving active duty permanently Sampie went to Savannah and pounded the streets and attended interviews but it was only the next week when Udell Wilcox, Assistant County School Superintendent of Liberty County, called Sampie and asked him to come teach in Hinesville. At first Sampie declined the invitation because he had seen how much work his mother put into teaching for decades. He was then asked to come see Mr. Edwards who was not a man easy to say no to. Mr. Edwards told him he had a sixth grade teacher leaving and that he would be perfect for the position. Needless to say, Sampie began preparing classes in English, Math, Science, Music and Art. He fell deeply in love with teaching and rather than staying at the elementary level, he went to the brand new Bradwell Institute High School to teach American Government to seniors and U.S. History to juniors. 

Sampie prided himself in seeing what his students accomplished in their later years. Two attorneys, a geologist, nurses, graduates from West Point, the U.S. AirForce, the Naval Academy, and a 3 Star General, just to name a few. Sampie received a number of accolades from his peers and former students in the form of STAR Teacher and Teacher of the Year. Smith retired in 2000 and decided to go into politics. He served as a county commissioner for two terms. Sampie also was a member of the Sate of Georgia’s Electoral College, and was a delegate of the National Republican Convention in Philadelphia. Sampie was also a member of First Presbyterian Church where he accepted a position as Elder. 

Sampie loved to travel and visit exotic locations all over the world. Some of the places he visited are Chile, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, England, Scotland, Egypt, Brazil, China, Germany, Bosnia, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other destinations. He enjoyed partaking in dining on various foods in various locations. Sampie enjoyed eating goat by the Sea of Galilee, feasting on conger eel while in Chile, and indulging at a feast of guanaco in Peru. 

Sampie leaves behind to remember his memories, his wife, LingJing Rao Smith; two grandsons, Ethan and Edison and their parents, Yiming Yang and Tia. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Marian Smith.

His family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of Georgia Hospice Care, Merritt & Grinstead Law group and to Tommy and Kim Carter of Thomas L. Carter Funeral Home & Crematory for their patience and support throughout Sampie’s illness. 

Sampie’s final resting place will be at Lone Hill Methodist Church Cemetery in Coffee County. 

Thomas L. Carter Funeral Home & Crematory, Flemington, is handling the arrangements. 


 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sampie Ward Smith, please visit our floral store.