Lawrence Benjamin Smith

Master Chief Petty Officer USN (ret.) Lawrence Benjamin Smith, 96, passed away December 16 after a brief illness. He was born to the late Lawrence Smith and Lillie Smith Pearce on September 25, 1927, in Madison, FL. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and the kindest person one could ever meet.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Maria Angela D'Osualdo Smith; sister, Sarah Smith Soltis; and brother, William "Bill" Pearce.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Smith of Atlanta, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Anthony and Michele Smith of Troy, Michigan; and son and daughter-in-law, Frederick and Donna Smith of Brunswick, GA. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, three nieces, a nephew, and other relatives.

Lawrence served with pride in the US Navy aboard the USS Basilone (DDE/DD-824) as a plank owner and was Captain's speaker aboard the USS Little Rock (CLG-4), the flagship of the 6th fleet in Gaeta, Italy. He also served at the US Embassies in Rome, Italy and Santiago, Chile, as well as the Pentagon, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Norfolk, Virginia among other places.

After retiring from the US Navy, Lawrence worked in the accounting office handling shipping services at Hercules where he also retired. He volunteered many hours of service at the Veteran's Administration of Brunswick, GA.

He enjoyed fishing at the NAS Glynco base ponds, the Altamaha and Satilla Rivers, and the dikes on Hwy. 17. He was also an avid coin collector, and loved to watch golf tournaments and classic movies.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow in the Brunswick Room at Edo Miller.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles.