Mr. Ravenel Knight Smith, affectionately known as “Boots”, passed away on May 7, 2022. Boots was born in Savannah, Georgia on August 28, 1929 to Jeanette and Joseph Knight. In 1943 he moved with family to Macon, Georgia. He briefly attended Georgia Military College in 1946 in Milledgeville before finishing at Lanier High School in Macon. In 1947 Boots returned to Savannah and joined the United States Navy. During his time with the Navy, he served on the aircraft carrier, USS Kearsarge.
He remained a lifelong patriot and supporter of the United States military and its veterans, donning his Kearsarge hat and navy jacket wherever he went.
After the death of his wife, Gracille, Boots moved to Cobb County Georgia with his children Richard and Carol. He was an active member of Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. He met Barbara Fincher in the church choir at Roswell Street, and they married in June of 1988. After retirement in 1995, Barbara and Boots moved to their beloved home in Centre, Alabama. They became actively involved in First Baptist Church Centre, where Boots was a deacon and active in the church choir and Celebrate Recovery program. Boots stayed actively involved as a substitute teacher at a vocational school in Centre and a volunteer tutor in a local elementary school.
Boots will be remembered by family and friends for love for Jesus, his keen sense of humor, and unwavering compassion and kindness. He was precious to all who were fortunate to know him. In 2017 Boots and Barbara moved to Lookout Mountain, Georgia to be closer to family.
Boots was predeceased by two grandsons, Craig Smith and Rob Bosworth.
Boots leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Barbara Fincher Smith and children, Richard (Gloria), Brooks, GA; Carol Whitfield (Colon), Carriere, MS; Susan Bosworth (Bob), Lookout Mountain, GA; Jayne Sinclair (Glenn), Monroe, GA; Matt Fincher, Lookout Mountain, GA.
Grandchildren, Richey Brown, Cody Whitfield (Jami); Summer Bosworth; Lauren Bosworth-Frederick (Jenni); Anna Bosworth; Jack Bosworth, Ashley Cameron (Colby); Cassie Melvin (Kyle); Will Priest (Mira); Tiffany Weeks; Andrew Fincher (Brittany). Great grandchildren, Sam Cameron; Laney Cameron; Alejandrina Bosworth-Sarango; Haddie Priest; Archie Fincher; Bentley Whitfield; Beau Whitfield.
The family will meet friends during call hours on Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 10 o’clock am to 11 o’clock am central time at Perry Funeral Home, 1611 Clarence E Chesnut Jr Bypass, Centre, AL 35960.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Boots will be held the same day at 1 o’clock pm central time at Perry Funeral Home with Pastor
Eddie Nation officiating.
Burial to follow in Cedartown, Georgia at Polk Memory Gardens, 2245 Rockmart Hwy.
No flowers please. In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Boots’ life of faith, love and service can be made to First Baptist Church Centre (fbc-centre.org) or Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org)