Skirum Baptist Church, Geraldine
DeKalb Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15
Favorite Hymn: “Blessed Assurance”
Hobbies: Sports
Family Status: Married to Carolyn for 51 years; two children, Bill and Pam; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren
Billy Smothers has served as mayor of Geraldine for six years. For the past three years, he has also served as interim pastor of Skirum Baptist Church, Geraldine, where he previously led the congregation as pastor for 39 years. Before becoming mayor, Smothers taught junior high and high school and later became a principal. He also served one term as DeKalb County superintendent of education and taught classes at Snead State Community College in Boaz from 1986 until 2000.
Q: What led you to become mayor?
A: I grew up in Geraldine. I went to school and taught school here for several years. It’s a small town and they needed someone that had time to serve the town.
Q: Do you see this position as a ministry?
A: It is a ministry and I have an opportunity to witness to the people I contact.
Q: What do you get from it?
A: I get satisfaction knowing that I’ve helped the town. When I took over, we were $500,000 in debt. We have no debt now, and we haven’t cut any services.
Q: How do other family members support you?
A: They have been supportive. They all wanted me to serve as mayor. My son is a deacon in the church where I pastor, and he is also a city councilman and principal of a school here. My daughter teaches school.
Q: What difference will this make for you in the future?
A: I will take from this the personal satisfaction of knowing that the town is on a sound financial basis and that I offered myself to the town that my children and grandchildren live in.
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