DECATUR, GA – Robert Lee Smith went home to glory March 15, 2012 in Decatur, Georgia. He was born Feb 20, 1949 in Darlington, South Carolina, the son of Ernest Lee Smith and Delphine Smith.   He attended Darlington Public Schools and graduated from Mayo High School in 1967.  He was involved with student government serving as both class treasurer and senior class president.   He was also active in the ROTC.  Mr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1972. While at South Carolina State he was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, president of the collegiate NAACP chapter and the Bethea Hall Club.  He was also an avid billiards player. He married Judith Ann Coker, his high school sweetheart, on June 27, 1970 in Darlington. She survives in Decatur. Together they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2010 with their dearest friends on a cruise in Alaska. Mr. Smith worked in retail sales management with Sears Roebuck in various locations across Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia.  Following that, he had a 29-year career in insurance sales and management with Colonial Life and Accident, based in Columbia, South Carolina.  While at Colonial he received numerous awards including agent of the year.  At the time of his passing they were making plans to retire to spend time with their grandchildren. He was a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ and functioned as a deacon for over two decades.  He has served the church in many capacities including Bible School instructor, bus driver, and member of Hillcrest Singers. He was known for his unique style of volunteering new members to work on various committees.   Robert was known by many as “Bob” and was well known for his skill of connecting with others. He has an uncanny ability to speak his mind in a humorous manner and was known for telling stories to his grandchildren.  He was known as the neighborhood dad to many of children and coached baseball and football for years at Glenwood Hills “Exchange Park”. A good day for Robert was getting up, reading the paper and going out for a round of golf, which was therapy as he described it.  He was more the fellowship golfer than the competitive one, but for years he had weekly Saturday morning “therapy” sessions.  He was also an avid Falcons fan, and as a testimony to his high moral character, convinced his entire season ticket section that they sat in a profanity free zone.   Robert was preceded in death by his birth father in 1950 and was raised by the late Heyward Willoughby who passed in 2003.  He was also preceded in death by his brother Dennis Willoughby. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judith Smith, his mother, Delphine Smith of Darlington, South Carolina, his three children, Kelvin (Desiree), Jacquetta (Aidoo), and Clifton, 6 grandchildren, Kwaku, Ayanna, Jelani, Jacob, Leah, and Xavier; two sisters, Idella and Joyce (Otto) Wingate, and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and dear friends.