Tonnie June Smith

Tonnie June Smith, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the age of 78. The only child of James and Dorothy Padget, Tonnie was born in Springfield, IL, and moved to Chicago when she was 18 to work for Eastern Air Lines and travel the world. She lived in multiple cities until meeting the love of her life, Kenneth Lewis Smith, in Atlanta. They built their house with the help of family members in Conyers, GA, and had one child, Kirby. Tonnie was active with various social clubs, including her gardening club and bowling team.

Tonnie was a curious, adventurous person who enjoyed living life. Her favorite hobbies were reading, gardening, and painting, and she never stopped traveling, visiting the Balkans in 2025. She was a survivor. Tonnie was born with a congenital heart defect that required experimental surgery in St. Louis, a hub for cardiothoracic breakthroughs in the 1950s and 1960s. She had multiple valve replacements in adulthood. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in 2015, requiring her to learn how to breathe on her own and walk again - which she did - at the age of 67. She was diagnosed with three different types of cancer, and all of them were either cured or went into remission.

After her husband passed in 2014, she moved to Decatur, GA, and the Central DeKalb Senior Center became a large part of her social life. She participated in many classes and trips through their fantastic programs. She also moved closer to her two grandchildren, Adelaide and Elise, and was able to spend time and travel with them. She was so thankful for the many years she was able to be a part of their lives and watch them grow.

While socializing was very difficult for her in her final months, she was aware of the impact she had on so many lives by seeing the messages of support that came through. Friendships meant a great deal to her and she was thankful for them all.

Tonnie is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kirby Smith and Erica Freihaut-Smith, to whom she was incredibly thankful for helping her navigate the final months of her life. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Adelaide and Elise Smith.

A visitation with the family will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 2:00-4:00PM at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home, 2773 N Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA 30033. Please join the family to share pictures, stories, and memories of Tonnie.