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Visitation for Henry County Police Officer Michael Smith held

Smith succumbed to his injuries after he was shot in early December. His funeral is planned for Thursday.

The visitation for fallen Henry County Police Officer Michael Smith was held Wednesday, Jan. 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The service was open to the public at Cannon Cleveland Funeral Home at 2580 Hwy. 42 N. in McDonough.

Officer Smith succumbed to his injuries Friday after he was shot in the face in early December.

Officer Michael Smith was responding to a person acting strangely at a McDonough area dentist office when the suspect became aggressive. Investigators said that the same bullet that ultimately killed the suspect during the struggle also hit Smith in the face.

Credit: Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Henry County Police Officer Michael Smith

After the violent confrontation, he fought to recover from his injuries with a community's prayers and support behind him and his family. But more than two weeks later, Smith died and became Georgia's sixth officer who was fatally injured in the line of duty.

RELATED | Henry County Police officer dies after being shot at dental office

His funeral will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m.  At noon, a Henry County police procession will then escort Smith and his family to Glen Haven Baptist Church at 345 East Lake Road in McDonough. Henry County officers are being invited to join the procession and arrive no later than 11:30 a.m.

After the funeral, a procession from the church to a graveside service will be held that will be limited to Henry County personnel at the request of the family.

The route will be from the church down Hwy. 155 onto John Frank Ward Boulevard. It will proceed around the McDonough Square and exit on Zack Hinton Parkway then right onto McGarity Road.

RELATED | Officer Michael Smith's body escorted to funeral home

Those who wish to line the streets or square should be there around 2:30 p.m.

The official donation account is through The Southern Credit Union in town and, as such, donations can be dropped off at the McDonough location at 2097 Highway 20 West.

The police department is also accepting donations at its precinct offices at 108 S. Zack Hinton Pkwy. in McDonough and 4545 N. Henry Blvd. in Stockbridge.

For those wanting to mail in their contribution, they can send a check made out to Officer Smith Fund to The Southern Credit Union Attn: Officer Smith Fund, P.O. Box 1509, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214.

Finally, donations can go through a GoFundMe crowdfunding account.

The latter account has already raised $28,530. Its goal was only $20,000.

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