DNR Continues Investigation into Tallulah Falls Death

Chad Dorsett, SKY93, Clayton contributed to this article

A memorial service was held Monday in Blue Ridge, Georgia for Nancy Moore Smith, who died after falling from Overlook 2 at Tallulah Gorge.

Meantime, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Office continues to look into the cause of Smith’s fall from the Overlook.

It’s still not clear whether Smith fell or jumped last Thursday.

Before her death, Smith wrote on her Facebook page about certain setbacks in her life but said she believed she would overcome them with the help and encouragement of friends, family, and her faith.

Emergency crews from Habersham and Rabun County as well as Tallulah Gorge State Park are being praised for working five hours last week to recover Smith’s body from 300-feet down the Tallulah Gorge.

Mark McKinnon, Public Affairs Officer for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division told SKY93 Radio in Clayton, that they received a call around midday last Thursday, that someone had fallen from the Overlook.

The Department of Natural Resources later identified the victim as 58-year old Smith, a former Pharmacy Director at Fannin Regional Hospital.

According to McKinnon, game wardens along with Habersham and Rabun County’s rescue personnel initially responded to a report of a woman falling or jumping off the Overlook.

But when they arrived they soon realized it was a recovery operation and were able to spot the victim from the top of the cliff.

Habersham and Rabun County High Angle Teams were able to get down and recover the body. Crews removed the body with a rope-rigging system.

Personnel from Habersham County Emergency Services, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Tallulah Falls Fire Department, Tallulah Falls Police Department, Rabun County Fire Services, DNR Park Rangers, Habersham County Search and Rescue, and DNR Aviation all worked to recover Smith’s body.