BOGART/STATESBORO, Ga. - Mrs. Virginia Cleary Smith, age 81, of Bogart and Statesboro, was welcomed home by her Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 12, 2009. Virginia Fannie Smith was born Virginia Fannie Cleary on May 12, 1927, in Statesboro, Ga., to the late Horace Matthew Cleary and Caddie M. Cleary. She attended grammar school and graduated high school in Statesboro, Ga. She married James Garnell Smith and had five children. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Statesboro First Baptist Church. She loved to work in her garden, read her Bible and was a loving mother, sister, aunt and grandmother. Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband, three sisters, Lucy Cleary and Jewell Cleary Fennell and Margaret Cleary Merrill; and two brothers, Frank Cleary and Calvin Cleary. "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God have giveth thee." Exodus 20:12 Surviving are her sons, James Carey Smith and Harold David Smith; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Darnell Tharpe, Jackie S. Foster and Steve R. Foster, Joanne S. Salter and Jerry S. Salter; 11 grandchildren, Robert Scott Foster, Lance Edward Foster, Tina D. Betz, Vickie Marie Morrison, Vince Tharpe, James Smith, Bobby Smith, Blake Smith, Jeffery Salter, Jeremy Salter and Joey Salter; 25 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday from noon until the funeral hour at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home with the Rev. Julian Ward officiating. Interment will be in the Eastside Cemetery. Friend may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com. Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements. Statesboro Herald, February 14, 2009 Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.