Virginia Reid "Ginny" Smith - Virginia Reid Smith, or "Ginny", as her friends know her, is Fred's wife and the mother of their five children. She is a graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in education, and she has taught all grade levels of school for 25 years - 10 of those years in Johnston County. A gifted singer and lover of arts and music, she especially enjoyed the time she spent teaching music and working with children's choral ensembles. In 2004 she was honored as a recipient of the H. Glenn Williams "Power of One" award for her work in bringing the arts to students by founding the Johnston County "Artists In The Schools" program. The "Power of One" award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to educational efforts in North Carolina. Ginny is very active in many groups and organizations, including: The Women's Club of Clayton; The Johnston County Arts Council, where she has served as past president and board member; NC Museum of History; General Federated Woman's Club of NC; Clayton High School PTSA; and Artists-in-the-Schools, to name but a few. Ginny is an active member of First Baptist Church of Clayton where she serves as a Choir member; Piano Accompanist; Acteens Leader; Bible School Music Leader; Youth Leader; and Soloist. She also serves on the church's Music, Family Life, and Outreach committees. In 2003, Ginny founded the Riverwood Cultural Arts Center, which provides the children of Johnston and Wake counties with many opportunities to pursue their creativity and arts interests. Through the Riverwood Cultural Arts Center, a wide variety of programs are available, including dance, voice, music, piano and guitar lessons, as well as visual arts classes. Of all her many accomplishments, the thing she is most proud of is her family. There is nothing she would rather do than spend quality time with her husband, Fred, her five children, Heather, Jule, Amber, Duval and Reid and her grandchildren Grant, Andrew, Mary Stanford, Anna Grace, Ardyn and Lila.
Heather and David Smithdeal - Heather is the oldest of Fred's five children. She was born while Fred was stationed in the Army in Charlottesville Virginia in 1968. Heather graduated High School from Oak Hill Academy and College from Johnston Community College with an Associates Degree in Business. After college Heather worked for American Airlines for 5 years in the Cary office and then started working with Fred Smith Company where she has been for 15 years. Heather married her husband in 1998 and has been happily married ever since. She has many hobbies such as arts and crafts and scrap booking. Her favorite activity is being an Aunt to her 6 nieces and nephews. She resides in Clayton with her husband David and Zack, their Jack Russell terrier.
Heather's husband, David Smithdeal, moved to Raleigh from East Tennessee after he and Heather were married. David is the former Director of Advertising for Piggly Wiggly Mid Mountain Foods, and was owner and publisher of The Greene County Alternative and Today's Market newspapers. David was active in politics in Tennessee where he was elected as the youngest person ever to serve on the Greene County Commission, where he served as chairman pro-tem of the Republican caucus and as vice chairman of the budget and finance committee. David is active in an online Christian ministry and enjoys composing and recording original Christian music.
Alisa and Jule Smith - Fred's oldest son is Fred Julius Smith, III, or "Jule" as he is known to family and friends. He is married to Dr. Alisa R Smith, and they have three beautiful children, Ardyn 3 years old, Lila, 2 years old, and the most recent addition to the family, Fred IV. Jule works for Fred Smith Company managing its administration and home-building operations, while Alisa cares for their family and consults part-time in the field of Industrial Organizational Psychology. Jule is also an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves. As a family, they enjoy traveling to Wrightsville Beach and spending time together at the Riverwood Golf & Athletic Club pools in the summer. They reside in Raleigh, NC.
Amber and Jake Austin - Amber was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in August of 1970 and is Fred's third child. While attending Wake Forest University, she met Jake Austin of Atlanta, GA, and has been married now for 13 wonderful years. They currently reside in Riverwood Golf Club in Clayton with their 4 children.
Grant, 9, is a 4th grader at Riverwood Elementary School and loves football, baseball and soccer. The triplets, Andrew, Mary Stanford and Anna Grace, are now 4 years old and full of life and energy! Every day is an exploration of something new and exciting! They love to sing and dance, swim at the pool, go for bike rides and give big brother hugs and kisses.
The Austin Family are members of First Baptist Church of Clayton and are involved in many church activities, as well as many community activities in the Johnston County area. Amber and Jake enjoy all the various sport activities in North Carolina from the mountains to the coast with their family. They also love new adventures such as traveling and exploring diverse cultures.
Duval Smith- Duval Smith, 29 years old, is the fourth child of Senator Fred Smith. Duval works for the Fred Smith Company as Division Manager for the Property Management Division. Duval lives in Riverwood Athletic Club and enjoys attending sporting events -- especially collegiate athletics.
Reid and Jaclyn Smith - Reid is the youngest child of the five. Reid, 22, attended Campbell University where he majored in Professional Golf management. Reid graduated in 2003 from Clayton High School and was all conference in football and golf. He went on to play golf for Campbell where he met his wife Jaclyn Perlman, who was also on the Campbell golf team. Reid came to work with Fred Smith Company in January of 2006, where he manages the golf courses and amenities division.
