Gibson Locke Smith, Jr. ’62 died on Friday, September 6, 2013 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Gib was born October 14, 1940 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the son of Gibson Locke Smith and Elizabeth Bartlett Smith.
He was a graduate of Myers Park High School, Davidson College and Duke University Law School where he was a member of the Editorial Board of the Duke Law Journal. Gib served three years as Captain in The Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U.S. Army.
After his military service, Gib returned to Charlotte and practiced law as a partner of Robinson Bradshaw and Hinson, P.A. for 35 years. He always felt it a privilege to spend his career with what he knew to be some of the finest and most talented lawyers in North Carolina. Gib was a member of the Mecklenburg Bar and he served as an original councilor of the Real Property Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
He was also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and a member of long standing in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Gib was President of the Berryhill Preservation Association and he served on the boards of the Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Social Services and the Charlotte Rotary Club.
He loved playing golf with his friends at Charlotte Country Club, but his greatest passions were duck hunting with his sons and friends at Wingspread on Lake Mattamuskeet and hiking with his partners in the mountains of Washington, Wyoming and Colorado. Gib also took great joy in coaching his three boys and watching them play ball.
Gib is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jane Balch Smith, his dearly loved sons and daughters- in- law; Gibson Locke Smith, III and Patricia Crowley Smith, Michael Diehl Smith and Mason Elder Smith and Jackson McCardell Smith and Ashley Howerton Smith. He is also survived by his sisters, Bartlette Smith Sanders (Dewey) and Sumner Smith Holman; his in laws, Janet Balch, Peggy Kelly, Jackson Balch (Kim) and Victor Balch (Kat) and his many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He adored his nine perfect grandchildren; Sally, Michael Jr., Gibson IV, Mac, Henry, George, Annie, Lucy and Lane.
The Smith family would like to thank the entire staff and the extraordinary care givers at Emeritus South Park for the very fine care they bestowed on Gib during his years with them; and Jim Lawton who started as a caregiver and became a dear friend to us all – a thank you is simply not enough.
Gib’s family will receive friends on Monday, September 9, 2013 from 6 until 8 at 918 Cherokee Road. We will celebrate his life at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 507 S. Tryon Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Davidson College, P.O. Box 7174, Davidson, NC 28035 ( www.davidson.edu/giving) or to The Alzheimer’s Association, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, 28215. Condolences may be offered at www.HarryandBryantFuneralHome.com.