On Aug. 24, the Guilford College community learned of the passing of Lecturer in Computing Technology & Information Systems Gary Keith Smith.

Born in 1958 to Galdies Raeford and Mattie Hill Smith, Smith spent his childhood in Forsyth County and attended East Forsyth High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and did post-graduation work at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, obtaining an M.B.A. and an M.S. in Information Technology.

Smith taught at Guilford for 10 years and also spent two years working at The Fresh Market as the manager of the project management office.

I had the pleasure of knowing Keith and almost failing one of his database classes. Humor aside, around the CTIS department, Smith was well-regarded.

“I have known Gary Keith Smith on both a professional and personal level,” said Dr. Chafic Bou-Saba, assistant professor of CTIS. “He was a colleague, a friend and we even shared the same office for a year or so before we became office neighbors. We always planned to eat lunch together on Wednesdays and always made jokes when either of us could not make it on time. I was planning to ask Keith for a letter of support for my second-year review.”

According to Bou-Saba, his and Keith’s relationship also took on a more humorous tone.

“I was really shocked when I heard of the news. Keith’s classes are usually before mine; so when he was done, he would come up to my office, peak his head in and tell me funny things like ‘they are chanting your name’ or ‘they are waiting for the man’ or ‘they are very scared of your exam.’ I have learned from Keith many things and he will be missed.”

The CTIS department is a tight-knit group of students and faculty and is quite esoteric. The news of Smith’s passing impacted us like we had lost a family member and for many alumni, Smith’s passing was difficult.

“I think the most succinct thing I can say about him is that he was one of the most sincere people I have ever met and with one of the best senses of humor,” Harrison Campbell ’15 said.

While he was often referred to as Keith, I found myself captivated by his resemblance to Bill Gates.

I believe Smith’s geniality made it easy to bond with him and it left a lasting impression on everyone he touched. And though his hard work awarded him a successful career in IT, his passion lay in teaching.

“Keith was a really awesome guy,” said senior Kyle Little. “He was always willing to help me with projects even after the semester was over.

“Keith also went out of his way to make sure you did well, giving up his Saturdays to teach an extra class each week for the students that needed help the most. He was a great teacher who really pushed me through the programming classes I was struggling in.”

Surviving Smith is his wife of 15 years, Kathy Griswold; his children, Christopher, Henrik and Koyana Smith; grandchild, A’Loura; his parents Raeford and Mattie Smith; brothers, Ray Smith, Jr., Tim Smith and Jeffrey Smith; sister, Lorene Nelson; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Smith was held at the Palmyra United Methodist Church on Aug. 29 and he was laid to rest shortly thereafter.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.