Jasper Newton Smith

Biography

Jasper Newton Smith earned the affectionate moniker "Honest John" for the straightforward manner in which he conducted business and treated associates. As a merchant and banker, he invested his earnings back into Atlanta, supporting schools, churches, and organizations that would strengthen the urban fabric.

Smith also offered encouragement to neighbors in times of need, believing that prosperity rested on mutual respect and generosity. He was interred in Oakland Cemetery, where his name remains synonymous with civic pride and philanthropy.