Mrs. Annie Ruth Cochran Smith, age 94 of Toccoa, left this world peacefully in the early morning hours of May 19, 2021.  She is survived by her two sons and their families, Doug and Jo-Anne Smith and their daughter, Grace Smith of Ashland, Oregon, and Gregg and Melanie Smith of Gainesville, Georgia, and their daughter, Abi Smith of Huntington, West Virginia.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Claud Smith.

Born February 25, 1927 in Banks County Georgia, she was the daughter of the late James Wiley "Jim" and Martha Etta Lane Cochran.  Ruth grew up the youngest daughter in a farming family, although one might not guess it, given the stylish, gracious woman she was later to become.  Farming was hard work, although truth be told, her older brothers often stepped in and spared her some of the more difficult chores.  Nevertheless, Ruth grew up with a strong work ethic, which later extended to a dedication to her career and family.

After graduating from Baldwin High School, where she excelled on the women's basketball team, Ruth attended business school and studied accounting.  In 1948, she married her husband, Claud, a union that lasted for more than 70 years prior to his death in 2019.  As a devoted wife and mother, Ruth was known for her cooking skills, which featured some of the best cornbread and chicken vegetable soup in the county.

Although Ruth's main interest was in the welfare of her family, she also took on a full-time career as a billing staff and administrative assistant at Georgia Power Company in Toccoa.  In this position, she was dedicated to customer service and often went out of her way to assist economically disadvantaged families in coming up with a payment plan to avoid discontinuation of their service.  At her retirement celebration after more than 40 years of service at Georgia Power, she was recognized for having missed only one day of work, a further testament to her dedication and sense of responsibility.

Ruth was an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and later the First Baptist Church of Toccoa.  She also was a member of the Pilot Club.  She enjoyed watching both of her sons playing sports as they grew up.  She and Claud, who was on the Toccoa City Council had many opportunities to travel to events around the country.  They also participated in a local square dancing club with many of their longtime friends.

Ruth will be remembered by all as a loving, compassionate person who always put the needs of others ahead of her own.  She will be greatly missed by those of us that knew her well.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 1pm until the 3pm on Saturday, May 22, 2021.

Funeral services will be held at three o'clock Saturday, May 22, 2021 from the Chapel of Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. David Ritcey officiating.

Entombment will follow at Stephens Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Flowers are optional.  Those desiring may make memorial donations to the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter, P. O. Box 2182, Toccoa, GA 30577, in honor of Ruth's love of cats.

Please keep the Smith family in your thoughts and prayers and sign the online guestbook at www.whitlockmortuary.net Whitlock Mortuary is honored to be serving the family of Ruth Cochran Smith.