In Memoriam: Bill Smith

Bill Smith died peacefully on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, surrounded by family after a lengthy battle with metastatic prostate cancer. Bill was a loyal husband, father and friend whose selflessness was a defining trait throughout his entire life. He was 90.

The son of William C. and Beulah Marie Smith, Bill was born on March 5, 1936. Bill graduated from Northside High School in Atlanta in 1954 and graduated from Duke University in 1958. He earned an MBA from Emory University in 1961.

At Northside High, Bill was a standout baseball player, captaining the baseball team in his senior year. He was also president of his senior class and voted “Best All Around” – an honor he epitomized every day. As a teenager, Bill was proud to be a founding member of the Buckhead Boys – an organization romanticized by author James Dickey in his 1969 Atlantic article, “Looking for the Buckhead Boys,” which explored the nostalgia of growing up in Atlanta during the 1950s.

It was baseball that took Bill to Durham, North Carolina, in 1955 to play for the Duke Blue Devils. At Duke, Bill was a member of Phi Delta Theta, adroitly balancing the demands of academics and life in the Phi Delt house with his obligations on the mound. While playing for Duke, one of Bill’s fondest memories was his trip to Omaha, Nebraska, to play in the College World Series.

Bill met his future wife, Willou Copeland, during one of her many trips from Brunswick to Atlanta and, as legend has it, he summarily dismissed her as being too immature and too fun-loving for his more staid and button-down tastes. Notwithstanding this first missed opportunity, the two were ultimately married in 1961 and quickly set up residence in Country Club Park, living on the 11th fairway of the Brunswick Country Club.

The late 1960s and 70s were busy times for Willou and Bill. They had two children, Leigh Ann and Cal and, as Bill began a new real estate career with the Sea Island Company, in 1972 he and Willou also became one of the earliest franchisees in a brand-new fast food concept called Burger King, opening their first restaurant in Brunswick on Altama Avenue, across from the then-bustling Brunswick mall. They ultimately grew that first restaurant to a multi-unit operation they sold in 1991.

Following a 25-year career with the Sea Island Company, Bill retired in 1996 to spend more time with Willou, faithfully and lovingly supporting her as she began to increasingly be slowed by the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. To that end, Bill always said he was most proud of his 60-year marriage to Willou and the family they produced.

Bill never measured his life by recognition or personal achievement. He found his greatest joy in helping others succeed, quietly and without fanfare. Whether caring for his family or supporting a friend, he was content to work behind the scenes, never seeking praise or acknowledgment. His humility, generosity and unwavering dependability were the hallmarks of his character. He was a steady presence who made others feel stronger, more confident and never alone.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Willou; and his grandson, Sam. He is survived by his two children, Leigh Ann Barrick (Aaron) and Cal Smith (Sara); and two grandchildren, Will and Cope Smith. Bill is also survived by his sister-in-law Jimmie Claire North. The family wishes to extend their sincere and deep gratitude to Dr. Mitchell Jones and his many other caregivers for their loving and compassionate care during Bill’s later years.

A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island. A reception following the service will be held in the Church Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends consider a memorial gift to Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1695 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, Georgia 31521.

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.