William “Bill” Edwin Smith, Jr. 87, of Charleston, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest Saturday, August 2, 2025. The family will receive friends in Charleston on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at J. Henry Stuhr Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway. For those in his home state of Georgia, funeral service and visitation will be held Thursday, August 7, 2025 in the Allison Memorial Chapel, 10141 Colerain Rd., St. Marys at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Homeward Cemetery in Waverly, Georgia.
Bill was born May 28, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida, son of the late Willie Edwin Smith and Rose “Jackie” Baptiste Smith. Bill was a proud alumni of The Citadel having graduated in 1961. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a Captain in the Force Reconnaissance (Recon). After his military service, he received many commendations over a ten year period as a Special Agent with the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover. Bill continued the legacy of public service by following his father and grandfather as Camden County Sheriff, holding his elected position with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman, who loved fishing and shrimping on the rivers in Southeast Georgia, and in his later years supporting The Citadel Bulldogs at numerous sporting events with his grandsons. He will be remembered as a man dedicated to his family and his country.
He is survived by his bride of over 50 years, Lavinia Bruorton Smith; two daughters, Adell Smith Hutto (Andy); Kellie Smith Suggs (Bobby), son, Blake Edwin Smith; sister, Jackie Smith Henning; grandchildren, William Hutto, Tyler Suggs, Logan Suggs, Mason Suggs; and many beloved nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be made to The Citadel Foundation or The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.