The First Presbyterian

Church in Peachtree City holds a unique distinction of

originally being all things to all people. Originally

begun as a Community Chapel in 1966 in a new town only

seven years old, a group of interested Presbyterians also

held services and the Rev. Cobby Ware conducted both

services.

The Peachtree City Baptist

Church was an outgrowth of the Community Chapel and in

1969 the Presbyterians became initiated into the Atlanta

Presbytery.

The Rev. Don Smith was

called to serve as its first full time pastor.

He was born and reared on a

farm in Rowan County, N.C., (also the same birthplace as

Elizabeth Dole).

He and four other siblings

worked very hard on the farm and the Rev. Smith said his

background taught him responsibility and provided a good

environment for the work he does now.

The community was

originally settled by Germans and the only church in the

area was Lutheran; consequently when he first began to

feel pulled into the ministry at the age of 14 or so, he

assumed he would be a Lutheran minister.

In high school he played

football as a running back and this helped him get a

scholarship to a Lutheran college, Lenoir-Rhyne, where he

graduated in 1959 with a BA in English and Sociology. In

college football, he played as a defensive back. It was

also here that he met his wife, Jane. They dated all

through their college days and were married in their

senior year in April, 1963. Her family were Presbyterians

and when it came time to attend seminary, the Rev. Smith

decided to pursue that particular faith. He had an

association with the Rev. Billy Graham's family and

Graham's brother-in-law, the Rev. Leighton Ford which was

also a strong influence.

He enrolled at Columbia

Presbyterian Seminary in Atlanta, where he graduated in

1966 with a Master of Divinity. His Doctorate of Ministry

was earned in 1976 from McCormick Seminary in Chicago.

The Smith's are the parents

of Johnny Smith, who is a career Air Force officer,

married with three children; Katherine Smith Wardlaw, who

is married with three children and Susan Smith Altland, a

physical therapist, who is married to a career Air Force

officer.

Sunday worship services are

8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sunday School is at 10 a.m.,

Family Dinners are Wednesday evenings at 5 p.m.

The church is located at

206 Willowbend Road, and can be reached at 770-487-7757.

<!--

-----------