Sara Harriett "Hattie" Smith was born in 1869, the daughter of Anthony Garnett
Smith, Jr. and Elizabeth M. Smith of Upson and Talbot counties, Georgia.
Hattie Smith married Charles Stewart Vining (1869-1958), who served at the Tax
Collector of Upson County for many years. Charles S. Vining was later
associated with the Georgia Highway Department. Hattie Smith Vining passed in
1948 and is buried with many family members in Southview Cemetery.
Much of my knowledge about the Smith family came from their son, James
Anthony "Pete" Vining (1909-1994) who was a veteran of World War II, the head
of the accounting department of the Thomaston Mills for many years, a member
of the Thomaston City Council, and a member of the board of the First
Methodist Church of Thomaston. He and his wife, Edna Laury Vining, took me to
several 19th century Smith family homes in Crawford County and Talbot County
in June of 1977. We also visited the Smith plot at the historic Collinsworth
Methodist Church Cemetery. Pete Vining owned the Anthony Garnett Smith, Jr.
Bible and many old photographs of the Smith family.
On my pilgrimage back to Talbot County during this past Thanksgiving weekend,
I retraced our steps in Talbot County. The exterior of Collinsworth Church
now gleamed with its restored porch, restored columns, and fresh paint.
Unfortunately, the circa 1830 Smith-Matthews house near the church was no
longer standing.
That Thanksgiving weekend, I gave thanks for these wonderful relatives who
took time from their busy schedules to show me these historic places of Talbot
County, some now gone, many years ago.

By T. Bradford Willis, DDS

Appreciation is expressed to Mr. Vann Chapman, editor, for printing this
article in the Jan. 24, 2013 issue of the Talbotton New Era of Talbot Co., Ga.

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Contributor FHD (49006032) suggested adding the names and dates of two more children to my great grandparents' list:
1. Frankie Dye Vining Daniel 30-1-1893 - 1-1-1985
MI 190975491
2. Charles Allen Vining 5-5-1904 - 2-2-1985
MI 136716015