Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-10
MRS. HOKE SMITH .
PASSES AWAY AT
HOME SATURDAY
Beloved Wife of Georgia's
Senior Senator SuCcumbS
to Long Illness - Funeral
Held Sunday

Mrs. Birdie Cobb Smith, wife of
United States Senator Hoke Smith
and a daughter of the famous gen.
eral, Thomas r. r. Cobb. died at
1:45 o'clock Saturday morning at
Senator Smiths temporary residence
in Atlanta, II East Fifteenth street.
Mrs. Smith had been i'll about two
weeks. She was enjoying fairly good
health when Senator Smith went to-
Washington for the extra session OF
congress, which convened on May
10. Ten days later she became in
disposed. Senator Smith returned to
Atlanta a week ago and found her
family felt encouraged for few
days to hope that she would re-
cover. Then her condition took
turn for the worse, and for twenty
four hours preceding her death it
was realized that she could live only
a little while.
Mrs. Smith before her marriage
was Miss Marion Thomas Cobb,
daughter of General Thomas R. R.
Cobb, of Athens, one of the famous
commanders of the Confederate army.
who was killed in battle and lett an
illustrious name in Confederate MS
tory On. her mothers side she was
granddaughter of Judge Joseph
Henry Lumpkin, the first chief justice
of Georgia.
Mrs. Smith was born in Athens on
January 81, 1860, two years before
General Cobb was killed. AS a baby
She was called by her father by the
pet name of Birdie, and this name
supplanted the name Marion, by
which she was christened, and was
the name her family called her. she
was the youngest child of the family,
there being four sisters one OIL
these was the late Mrs Harry jack
SON, wife of the late Captain Harry
jackson, of Atlanta, and mother OF
Marion M. Jackson. Another was
the late Mrs. A. L. Hull, of Athens
mother of DR.. Marion McHenry Hull,
of Atlanta. The third sister was
Lucy Cobb, who died at the age Oh
fourteen years, and in whose honor
Tmcv Cobb institute, in Athens, was
named.
Senator and Mrs. Smith were mar
ried in Athens on December, IL, 1888.
Their home has alternated between
Atlanta and Washington. During
Senator Smiths service OF several
wears as secretary of the interior IN
President Cleveland's administration
they resided in Washington. Then
their home was in Atlanta until Sen
ator Smith went back to Washing
ton as a member of the United
States senate. The family residence
was located on West Peachtree
street, but during Senator Smith
incumbency of the office OF governor
of Georgia they lived IN the COVER
nor's mansion.
Mrs. Smith was first honor grad
uate of Lucy Cobb institute. Her
devotion to her family and home
was the dominant trait Of her char
acter. She exemplified in the high
est degree the south's chlValrous
tradition of womanhood. She was
consecrated Christian, loving Wlfe
and mother, a gracious and charming
hostess whose hospitality has been
enioyed on many delightful occa-
sions. On coming to Atlanta as the
bride of Senator Smith she Joined
the First Presbyterian church. then
located in it's house of worship on
Marietta street. Her family were
members of the Presbyterian fa1th,
and she was charter member Oh
the North Avenue presbyterian
church when it was organized some
twenty years ago and took an active
part in building the house of Wor-
ship at Peachtree street and North
avenue In the organized affairs OF
women she took part only upon oc-
casion, as her home and her church
occupied her attention first of all.
In Ill Health
About twelve years ago MIS-
Smiths health became impaired
Since that time, although her reso-
Lutte determination kept her up, she
had not been strong. Her frail con-
dition has been the object OF Sen
ator Smiths constant solic1tude IN
the midst of his arduous duties prac-
tically ever since he went to Wash
ington. On he recent return OF
Senator and Mrs. Smith to Georgia
for their first sojourn at home in
several years, the family felt en-
couraged by her seeming promise OF
better health, but these affectionate
hopes were soon disappointed by heT
last and fatal illness.
The funeral was held Sunday aft
ernoon at o'clock at the North Ave-
nue. Presbyterian church, OF which
she was a charter member. The serv-
ices were conducted by Rev. S. l..
Morris, secretary of the Presbyterian
Rev. John H. Elliott, acting pastor
of the church.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her hus
band, four children and seven grand"
children. Her children are Marion
Smith, a prominent lawyer of Allan
ia; Mrs. Ronald Ransom, the wife Of
Attorney Ronald Ransom; Mrs. Al
ston Simpson, the wife Of Lieuten-
ant Commander Simpson, Of the
navy, who is now in foreign waters,
while Mrs. Simpson is here; Mrs.
Lyman Pratt, of Washington. The
grandchildren are Marion, Lucia and
Sarah Smith, Barbara Ransom, Hoke
Smith and Raymur Simpson and
Birdie Pratt.