By David Hunter, Associate Orator Editor
We lost a good friend when Mr. T. Larry Smith passed away on December 17, 2024. He died at age 84 in the Extendicare Health Center in Dothan, Alabama. Larry’s devotion to the Henry County Historical Group was unwavering. He founded the organization in October 2002 and was the editor of the HCHG’s quarterly publication, The Patrick Henry Orator. Previously, on March 15, 2000, Larry was appointed by the Henry County Commission as the official historian for Henry County, Alabama. After Larry retired, his life was devoted to learning more and writing about the history of Henry County.
I first met Larry in the Headland Library in the early 2000s not long after I retired from my career in electrical engineering and settled in Headland. We were both doing history research in the library. As fellow Auburn graduates and with both of us having a love of history, we had some common interests. At Larry’s urging, I joined the HCHG and soon started writing articles for the Orator. In 2015, Mr. Ron Thomas, husband of HCHG Secretary/Treasurer, Mrs. Gayle Gamble Thomas, was the associate editor of the Orator. When Ron passed away in March 2015, Larry asked me to take over as the associate editor which I accepted. Thus our Orator working relationship became even closer. Over the past decade, Larry and I spent countless hours in his office in the Tumbleton Community of Henry County working on the Orator. I took the photo of Larry, seen on the right, in his office in early 2024 not long before his health began to fail. Using an old phrase, Larry left some “big shoes to fill” for the next editor of the Orator.
Larry was a humble and practical person. As a single man, he made pre-preparations years ago for the inevitable, his own death. He had his tombstone engraved with his full name and date of birth. It was placed in Henry County’s Balkum Cemetery next to the graves of his parents. He also had his grave dug and his burial vault put in the ground. Larry had also pre-selected his beautiful wood casket.
Larry composed much of his own obituary years ago. Perhaps out of modesty, he did not include the fact that he started the Henry County Historical Group organization back in 2002. Also not in his obituary, Larry held a lifetime honorary membership in the Columbia Historical Society of neighboring Columbia, Alabama. Larry’s obituary, transcribed here, summarizes his life experiences:
Thomas Larry Smith, a resident of the Tumbleton Community of Henry County, died Tuesday morning December 17, 2024, in Extendicare Health Center. He was 84. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M Thursday, December 19, 2024, in the Balkum Cemetery with Reverend Joey Pettis officiating. The family will receive friends following the graveside services. Larry Smith will lie in state at Holman-Headland Mortuary from 10:00 A.M until 4:00 P.M Wednesday for friends and relatives that would like to come by and pay their respects and sign a guest register. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Balkum Cemetery Fund. Larry Smith was a lifelong resident of the Tumbleton Community of Henry County, son of the late Ralph Augustus Smith and Edna Inez Floyd Smith.
He attended Shelly Elementary School in Tumbleton and later graduated from Headland High School in 1958. Larry enrolled in Auburn University and received a B.S. and MS. Degree in Education. Upon graduation from Auburn University, he became employed by Virginia Carolina Chemical Company and was a sales representative in south Alabama. Larry was formerly employed by Wallace Community College as Director of School Services. He later became employed by American Cyanamid as a sales representative for the southeastern United States. In]969, Larry was employed as a business instructor at Chipola Jr. College in Marianna, Florida. In 1972, Larry founded Smith Properties, Inc. in the Tumbleton Community and was a real estate developer and building contractor for many years. Larry was a member of Balkum Baptist Church, the Southeast Genealogical Society, and the National and Henry County Alumni Association of Auburn University. He served on the Henry County Alumni Association as a legislative contact representative. Larry was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Chattahoochee Historical Commission and the Alabama Homebuilders Association. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of Headland National Bank and was the owner and President of Smith Properties, Inc. Larry served as the Henry County Historian for many years and also authored several books regarding Henry County history. He was actively involved in the restoration of many Henry County cemeteries and donated the historic Whetstone Waterfalls in Haleburg to the Dothan Landmark Park and held a lifetime membership in the Dothan Landmark Foundation. Larry was a member of the Wiregrass Art Museum and the Dothan Botanical Gardens. He formerly served as a member of the Henry County Hospital and Nursing Home Board. Surviving relatives include a special first cousin, Steve Floyd and his wife, Linda, Dothan; and several other cousins including, Ken Floyd, Dothan and Pat Oates (Brenda), Tumbleton Community.
