Grady Sebastian Smith Sr., age 86, of Hendersonville, NC, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Pardee Hospital.
Born in Anderson, he was a son of the late Richard Lelious Smith Sr., and the late Hazel Herring Smith.
Grady was an Erskine College graduate and worked in textiles for many of his early years. In 1970, he was named President of Defender Chemical in Columbia, SC. Grady began working at Carolina Forklift in 1982. He ultimately bought the business and was the owner and operator until his retirement in 2006. He served on the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) Board of Directors for five years and contributed greatly to the association. Outside of work, Grady enjoyed playing golf, landscaping, collecting antique clocks, and traveling around the world with his wife, Linda Gail Smith.
Though Grady enjoyed these activities and more, nothing was more central to his life than the church friends and family he found and cultivated throughout the years. Grady participated in multiple church groups and committees, providing leadership to many of them along the way.
He is survived by his children, Grady “Buddy” Smith Jr., of Columbia, SC, Mike Smith, of Atlanta, GA, and Kim Andrews (Paul), of Mills River, NC, along with his grandchildren, Grayson, Brandon, Hannah, Caroline, Greg, and great-grandchildren, Luke, Emmylou, and Grady.
Grady is also survived by his sisters, Mary Hicks, of Beaufort, SC, Joy Townsend, of Richmond, VA, and multiple nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, Grady was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Gail Smith, and his brother, Richard Lelious Smith Jr.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00am, Monday, April 8, 2024, at The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center, 1621 Pearman Dairy Road, Anderson, SC, 29625. Rev. Dr. Mark Ross will officiate.
A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00am until 11:00am, at The Standard.
Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 2609 US-29, Anderson, SC 29621.
The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center is serving the Smith family, and a message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.
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