Earl and Rachel Smith probably had no idea 55 years ago when they started E. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning what their company would look like in 2017. Entrepreneurial in spirit and community-minded at heart, the co-founders set out to establish a successful business while, at the same time, using that platform to give back to their community. Still a family-owned and operated company, E. Smith continues to install, service, and maintain heating and cooling systems for East Cobb families and businesses. Debbie Smith Abernathy, vice president and daughter of Earl and Rachel, gives much credit for all the company’s accomplishments to her mother, who passed away a year ago this May, as E. Smith celebrates its 55th anniversary.
The Smiths moved to Marietta, which was then rural countryside, in 1961. The next year, they began E. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, with Rachel as the first employee, while Earl completed work at Bryant Atlanta Corporation. She handled the phones and accounting during the company’s infancy. She continued to work at E. Smith her entire life. According to Debbie, even as her mom battled cancer, she worked until three weeks before her death at the age of 82.
With a heart for community, Rachel felt strongly about giving back. West Cobb’s Calvary Children’s Home was E. Smith’s first charity, and one that the company continues to support today both financially and through servicing their HVAC systems. In fact, all the memorial gifts given in Rachel’s honor were presented to Calvary Children’s Home, which provides a safe and loving Christian environment for children needing placement apart from their families.
Another favorite charity is the Earl Smith Strand Theatre, a historic landmark located on the Marietta Square. Built as an Art Deco movie theatre in 1935, The Strand Theatre (original name) was vacated in 2002. Many local citizens and businesses joined together to raise funds to reopen the theatre. Earl led the charge in coordinating a matching challenge campaign, and the theatre was renamed the Earl Smith Strand Theatre upon its reopening in January 2009. Members of E. Smith have served in various board positions, and the company was the presenting sponsor for this year’s golf tournament.
E. Smith actively supports other community associations and groups, furthering Rachel’s commitment to giving back. Company employees have served in various board positions and/or have helped in fundraising. These include:
• The Northeast, Northwest and McCleskey-East Cobb YMCAs
• Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County
• Cobb Community Gardens
• Cobb Schools Foundation
• The Center for Family Resources
• liveSAFE Resources (formerly YWCA of Northwest Georgia)
• Cobb Heating Association
• Cobb Chamber of Commerce
• Conditioned Air Association of Georgia
E. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving East Cobb for 55 years. If you are looking for a HVAC company that will be around when you need it most, call 770-422-1900 or visit www.esmithair.com.
This article originally appeared in the May issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 9. Click HERE to access the digital edition.
