Dougherty-Lee County GaArchives Obituaries.....Smith, Karen Harbin March 2, 2007
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Yeager ann.yeager@ets.exel.com March 16, 2007, 11:26 am

Kimbrell -Stern Funeral Home - 2007
Date of Birth: September 29, 1957  
Date of Death: March 02, 2007  


Karen H. Smith of Winifred Road, Leesburg, GA died Friday, March 2, 2007 at her 
home. 

Karen Harbin Smith was born in Tifton, GA on September 29, 1957. The second 
daughter of Charles and Wilma Harbin, Karen was an accomplished piano player 
and at the young age of eight played in her church and by the time she was nine 
she was playing in weddings. Karen excelled in school graduating from Tift 
County High School, ABAC Junior College in Tifton, and the University Of 
Georgia with a Masters in Business Administration. During this time period she 
was also Miss Tifton and intern with Senator Herman Tallmadge in Washington, 
DC. She started her business career with Gold Kist in Moultrie, GA as the 
Organizational Manager where she traveled the S.E. district of Georgia and 
north Florida. She then went to work with TRW in Thomasville, GA as Training 
Coordinator. Wanting to move to Albany where she attended Albany Bible Church, 
she took the position as Business Manager of OBGYN Associates for a number of 
years where while investigating new equipment for the practice she underwent a 
mammogram which revealed the cancer that she fought for 16 years. She completed 
her business career at Alarm Services, Inc. as general manager/partner with her 
husband. Karen became a Christian at an early age and in 1999 began going into 
the Dougherty County Jail to tell the female inmates about the good news of 
Jesus Christ. After her disease made it difficult to continue her jail ministry 
she told the Lord “If you will send them, I’ll tell them” and God was faithful 
to sent many. Every Tuesday night at 7 pm the yard at her house filled with 
cars as women both young and old showed up eager to hear the words of life. She 
had her last Bible class Tuesday Feb. 27. Karen and her husband were 
instrumental in starting the Young Life ministry in Albany and that led to her 
teaching “Campaigners” which is a study designed for high school students who 
desire more in-depth study. She taught these every Thursday evening in her 
home. When she could she attended their functions at school and was always 
ready to lend them support. 

Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Ernest Smith of Leesburg, her mother 
and father, Wilma and Charles Harbin of Tifton, GA, her sister and brother in 
law, Charlene and Ray Rackley of Perry, GA, her sister and brother in law, Lisa 
and Bill Darby of Jacksonville, NC, her stepdaughter, Mandy Smith and Stephanie 
Smith of Charleston, SC and stepson and his wife Reed and Jennifer Smith of New 
Bern, NC, and four nieces and a nephew. 

Karen taught her last Bible class this past Tuesday evening and in honor of 
Karen a memorial service will be held at Gillionville Baptist Church, 4608 
Gillionville Rd., Albany at 7 pm on Tuesday evening, March 6th. Those desiring 
may make memorials to the Lost and Found Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box72205, 
Albany, GA 31708 or Albany Bible Church, 100 Grand Island Dr., Albany, GA 
31707. The family will receive friends Monday, 6 to 8 PM at Kimbrell-Stern 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dougherty/obits/s/smith7033gob.txt

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