Matilda Milner Smith

Matilda Milner Smith, 68, of 34 Arrowhead Drive, Waverly Hall, went to her eternal home on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Prior to her death, she was lovingly cared for by the 8th floor ICU staff at Midtown Medical Center, Columbus. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 2400 Devonshire Drive, Columbus. Reverend Scott Hagan will officiate.

Matilda was born on August 5, 1946 in Quitman, Georgia, the third child of John Edwin and Ruby Trotter Milner. She was educated in Brooks County Schools, and went on to Valdosta State University. She graduated with Bachelor and Master of Library Science degrees at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.

Matilda was blessed to receive excellent training in library science at USC and initially put that training to good use as a school librarian at Hand Middle School, Columbia, South Carolina. When a fire burned a large portion of the school, including the library, Matilda had the unique experience of personally outfitting the entire library all over again. She developed a technical library for the Centac Division of Ingersoll-Rand in Mayfield, Kentucky and later was a reference librarian at Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky where she participated in the move from the old to new library.

Upon coming to Columbus, Georgia, Matilda was head of the fine arts department at the W.C. Bradley library. She eventually was promoted to the position of library manager at the Bradley, and the Ledger-Enquirer did an interesting human interest story as she closed the doors of the Bradley for the last time in 2004. Matilda was responsible for orchestrating the move of the entire Bradley book collection to the new Columbus Public Library—a huge undertaking! Her recommendations regarding innovative library science advancements made the Columbus Public Library, at its opening in 2005, the most technologically sophisticated library in the south. She retired in 2006.

Matilda loved daffodils, books, and most importantly, her children and grandchildren. She reveled in their growth, their distinctive personalities and participated fully and joyfully in their lives. She enjoyed taking them on personalized vacations where she could enjoy their presence.

Preceding her in death are her parents, John and Ruby Milner, as well as an older brother, John Edwin Milner, Jr. of Tallahassee, FL. Surviving her are her loving husband of 37 years, Robert C. Smith, Jr., two daughters, Mary Jane Macaluso (David) of Haralson, GA, and Joy Propst (Robby) of Waverly Hall, GA and a brother, Thomas Milner (Renate) of Cecil, GA. Her seven grandchildren are Nicholas David Macaluso, Conner Hudson Macaluso, Isabella Jane Macaluso, Madison Mills Propst, Emmi Lou Propst, Emma Grace Davis, and Olive Milner Propst.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Scleroderma Foundation or to the Music Maintenance Fund at Epworth United Methodist Church.