Mrs. Rachel Butler Smith, age 82 of Ellijay, GA, passed away on Monday, May 12th, 2025 at the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper, GA.

Mrs. Smith was born on December 12th, 1942 in Jonesboro, GA to the late Raymond Butler and Almar Nations Butler. She was a dedicated educator for the Cobb County School System and a cherished member of Orange Hill Baptist Church of Austell, GA. A graduate of Tift College, she earned her bachelor's degree and spent her life nurturing young minds with care and commitment. Above all, she deeply loved her family and the children she taught, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, faith, and service. Mrs. Smith is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Clarence L. Smith of Ellijay, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Mike (Joy) Smith of Cobb County; one daughter, Cindy Hunt of Cherokee County; two brothers, Dave Butler of Sacramento, California and Phillip Butler of Colorado, and six grandchildren, Molly DeBoard, Jennifer Craig, Samatha Franczen, Amy Payson, Tia Conn, and Michelle Tattershall.

A Graveside Service to honor the life of Mrs. Smith will be held on Friday, May 16th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. from the Yukon Cemetery with Rev. William Blackwell officiating. The following gentlemen will be serving as pall bearers: Matthew Blackwell, Dustin Murphy, Jeff Tattershall, and Akos Franczen.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, May 16th, 2025 from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. The funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 10:45 a.m. headed to Yukon Cemetery in Ellijay, GA.

Bernhardt Funeral Home of Ellijay is entrusted with these arrangements.