Lee County Georgia Obituaries - Thomas J. Avera Submitted by Len Avera lavera@netdoor.com ******************* THOMAS J. AVERA OBITUARY FROM THE SMITHVILLE, GEORGIA NEWSPAPER Thursday, January 22, 1874 DIED Smiththville, Ga., January 20, 1874. 1 write you that grim visage death has again visited the peaceful and quiet village of Smithville, and taken another of her best and highly esteemed citizens, in the person of Mr. Thomas J. Avera, who came here about 1848 and built up for himself a reputation for sobriety, honor and integrity. Indeed, he was one of her most solid merchants and having done, perhaps, more for the town than any other citizen, Mr. Avera died about six o'clock, on Sunday morning last of pneumonia, and was buried on yesterday morning. His remains was attended by a large concourse of his friends, which fact evidenced the high esteem in which he was held by them.