Catherine Barker Smith

March 19, 1935 – April 28, 2026

Catherine Barker Smith, 91, of Jonesboro, Georgia, passed away peacefully in her apartment on April 28.

Born March 19, 1935, in Harrison, Washington County, Georgia, Catherine was the daughter of Estees and Edna M. Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Emory and Wilmer Smith; her first husband, Jerry Barker; and her second husband, Joe Smith.

She is survived by her daughter, Jerilyn (James) Allen; son, Keith E. Barker; granddaughter, Kimberlyn B. Henson; great-grandchildren Braden Stephens, Adalyn, Levi, and Jaxson Henson; and friends considered family: Carol Magruder, Travis Bartlett, and Casey Whitten.

Catherine graduated from Sandersville High School in 1953 in the upper 10% of her class, where she was also a cheerleader. In 1954 she attended Marsh Business College in Atlanta. She then began a 32-year, 3-month career with the Federal Aviation Administration, serving as Manager over the secretarial pool. She received numerous outstanding performance evaluations and special achievement awards, and upon retiring on March 30, 1990, was honored with the Kitty Hawk Award—the most prestigious award ever bestowed on a female employee of the FAA.

After a short time off, she became the full-time Church Secretary at First Baptist Church of Conley, Georgia, for several years. There she was President of the Happy Hearts Sunday School Class, sang in the choir, and was always helping those in need. She regularly cooked extra food at home and delivered meals to shut-ins in disposable containers so recipients could easily dispose of them. She also planned and prepared food for church mission trips.

When Conley church closed, she joined First Baptist Church in Forest Park. She sang in their choir and served on the bereavement committee, where she and others cooked at the church for families who had lost loved ones. She loved to sing and played piano at home while raising her children.

Catherine also worked at a tax business on Main Street in Forest Park, and her final position was at The Forest Park Senior Center, where she worked for 14 years. She retired just 9 days before her 88th birthday and was honored with a plaque from the Mayor of Forest Park.

Many folks called her Cathy. She loved people, and people loved her. She easily made friends. She always put others before herself. She was so easy going, a great cook. Her desserts were always wanted at any social function. She never spoke a bad word to anyone. Besides loving her family, friends she loved getting her hair done once a week, the one luxury she allowed herself, and ALWAYS had to have her lipstick on when stepping out of her home. She will surely be missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:

Vitas Healthcare (Hospice)

2000 Riveredge Parkway, Suite GL100

Atlanta, GA 30328

or

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group

866-232-8484