With great sadness, Giles passed peacefully in his sleep early morning of February 23, 2021. He was diagnosed May 2015 with CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) from the concussions during his football career.
Although he was born in Americus, Georgia, Valdosta was home, moving there before first grade. Playing football at Silas Mahone Jr. High and Valdosta High, he never saw defeat. As a member of Valdosta First Methodist Church, he never missed a Sunday for multiple years.
1960, 1961, and 1962, Giles was the leading scorer for Georgia 1AAA and set a record for conversions for each of those years. He was the #1 running back in Georgia 1962 which resulted in multiple college scholarship offers, Georgia All State Team, and North-South Team. He also held the track record for 100 yard dash in Georgia for many years. Valdosta was State champs 1960, 1961 and 1962 and National High School Champs 1962 under the guidance of Coach Bazemore.
Choosing Georgia Tech along with 4 team mates, Schroer, Thomas, Middleton and Hendley, continued the undefeated streak thru Freshman season into Sophomore season. Giles continued first string Varsity football thru the 1966 season, “Bobby Dodd’s Last Team”. He declined offer to play in NFL.
In 1967, he married Donna Jo Whittle who he had met in class at Tech. They remained in Atlanta until 1973 while he was a coach and recruiter for Tech. During this time they had two daughters, Sheridan and Shareese.
Moving to Cobb County in 1973, Giles started his own company in residential construction and development which he continued until 2016. He was a long time member of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
As an ultimate athlete and sportsman, he excelled in all he undertook: golf, hunting, fishing, racquetball, swimming, diving, gardening, and woodworking. He was a fearless competitor and leader.
He is survived by: his wife, Donna, and daughters, Sheridan Phillips, and Shareese and husband Kit Saponari; Grandchildren, Aiden and Avery Phillips, Ava and Wyatt Saponari; Sisters, Anna Lee Smith, Linda and husband John Gammage, Sara and husband Jerry Murphy, and Brother, Ben Smith; Multiple nieces and nephews.
Service: Wednesday, March 3, at 11:00 AM at JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068. In lieu of flowers: Alexander-Tharpe Fund, Georgia Tech, 150 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30332, with notation “In Memory of Giles Smith”
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