Mr. James Lester Gillis, Jr., known by most people as “Jim L.”, age 101, passed away Monday, February 26, 2018.
Services will be held in the First Baptist Church, Soperton, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, with Reverend Andy Cook officiating. Burial will be in the Gillis Family Cemetery, Treutlen County, with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ogden Persons, Jim Persons, John Clardy, Alan Clardy, James Clardy and James Gillis IV. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
Mr. Jim L. was born October 2, 1916. He was the eldest of two sons of Jim L. Gillis, Sr. and Annie Lois Walker Gillis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two wives. He was married to Katherine Hudmon of Screven County on March 20, 1936, until her death on March 7, 1997. On January 14, 2001, Jim L. married Augusta Smith Woodcock of Haddock, GA, who passed away on September 3, 2006. Also preceding Jim L. in death was a daughter, Marianne Gillis Persons, two sisters, Martha Louise Gillis and Annie Lois Gillis, and a brother, Hugh Gillis Sr.
A lifelong resident of Treutlen County, he attended high school in Soperton where he was valedictorian, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1937, with a BS degree in forestry. He has been a member of First Baptist Church of Soperton since 1927 and is a member of the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
A banker, timberman, cattleman, and farmer, he has been very active in conservation work most of his life. He managed approximately 15,000 acres of timberland. Foresters from all over the Southeast respect his timber management program.
He was president of Soperton Naval Stores, Inc., a family corporation, and managed the naval stores and timberland operations since 1938. He has served as past director and was president of the American Turpentine Farmers Association. He served as president of Georgia Forestry Association and also served as a member on the Board of Directors. The Georgia Forestry Association awarded him the 2007 Wise Owl Award. He was appointed to the Georgia Forestry Commission on February 14, 1977, and has been reappointed by each governor since. He had served continuously as chairman of the Georgia Forestry Commission from January 1981 until 2007. He continued to serve as a Georgia Forestry Commission board member until January 1, 2017. He is an honorary member of the Society of American Foresters and has been awarded their Golden Membership Award. In 2002, he was inducted into the Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame. The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association awarded Jim L. the Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, October 17, 2008, in recognition of exceptional services.
In business affairs, Jim L. was elected director of the Bank of Soperton on January 4, 1940, following the death of M.B. Gillis on August 26, 1939. He became vice president of the bank on January 8, 1952, and on June 10, 1960, he was elected president and served in that position until 1981. Mr. Jim L. served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank from October 29, 1974, thru September 28, 2016, and served as director emeritus. He was past president of the Georgia Bankers Association and served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee for two years.
Jim L. was elected district supervisor in the Ohoopee River Soil Conservation District in 1939. On May 4, 2010, he was given a 70-year plaque for extraordinary contributions. NRCS Chief Dave White presented a trophy in recognition of more than 70 years of conservation leadership in serving as a Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor from 1939-2009. He is the only person in our nation that has achieved that award, and he continued to serve until March 31, 2015. He was elected 2nd president of the Georgia Association of Soil Conservation Districts in 1945, and he served as chairman of the State Soil Conservation Committee for almost 24 years. In 1960, he was chosen “Outstanding Conservationist of Georgia” at the annual Governor’s Awards Banquet sponsored by Sears Roebuck & Co. and Georgia Sportsman Federation. On August 16, 1967, he was recognized as an honorary member of the Soil Conservation Society of America. In January 2001, he was inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame.
He was elected county commissioner of Treutlen County in 1961 and served for 40 years. He served as chairman of the Treutlen County Commissioners from 1973 to 2001. In 1969, Jim L. was elected president of the Georgia Association of County Commissioners. He also served on the Board of Managers for a number of years. In March 1961, he was named as the Georgian to receive the coveted “Citizen of the Year Award” which is presented annually by the Georgia Association of County Commissioners.
In civic affairs, Jim L. was a member of the Soperton Lions Club for over 75 years. He has served as past president and zone chairman. On May 31, 2014, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. He was active in Boy Scouts work and served for two years as finance chairman for the Pine Forest District of Boy Scouts and was on the National Council of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the President’s Club of the University of Georgia.
With all his other activities, Jim L. had neither the time nor the inclination to pursue a political career. However, he served one term in the State Senate from 1945-46. In 1959, Governor Ernest Vandiver appointed him to the State Democratic Executive Committee. He served as co-manager for the Lyndon B. Johnson campaign for president for the State of Georgia. He has also served as chairman of the Treutlen County Democratic Executive Committee. Jim L. served on the City Council of Soperton and was elected mayor of Soperton without opposition for five years.
Survivors include his children, Kate Hudmon Felton of Atlanta, Margaret Lois Clardy and husband John of Ocala, FL, and James Lester (Jimmy) Gillis, III and wife Justine of Soperton; grandchildren, G. Ogden Persons, III, Jim Gillis Persons, Katherine P. Kelly, Laura F. Trimble, Mary F. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, III, James G. Clardy, Alan R. Clardy, Margaret H. Platter, James L. Gillis, IV; great-grandchildren, Mary Katherine Persons, James Gillis Persons, Robert Parker Persons, Jackson Turner Persons, Harper Lee Kelly, Katherine W. Trimble, James Edward Trimble, Stephen W. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, IV, Katelin L. Clardy, John Steven Clardy, Ruby Kate Clardy, William McAllister Platter, James L. Gillis, V, Anna Hayes Platter, Chadwick Banner Gillis, James Gillis Clardy, Jr, and Grattan Fowler Gillis; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held in the First Baptist Church, Soperton, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, with Reverend Andy Cook officiating. Burial will be in the Gillis Family Cemetery, Treutlen County, with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ogden Persons, Jim Persons, John Clardy, Alan Clardy, James Clardy and James Gillis IV. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
Mr. Jim L. was born October 2, 1916. He was the eldest of two sons of Jim L. Gillis, Sr. and Annie Lois Walker Gillis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two wives. He was married to Katherine Hudmon of Screven County on March 20, 1936, until her death on March 7, 1997. On January 14, 2001, Jim L. married Augusta Smith Woodcock of Haddock, GA, who passed away on September 3, 2006. Also preceding Jim L. in death was a daughter, Marianne Gillis Persons, two sisters, Martha Louise Gillis and Annie Lois Gillis, and a brother, Hugh Gillis Sr.
A lifelong resident of Treutlen County, he attended high school in Soperton where he was valedictorian, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1937, with a BS degree in forestry. He has been a member of First Baptist Church of Soperton since 1927 and is a member of the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
A banker, timberman, cattleman, and farmer, he has been very active in conservation work most of his life. He managed approximately 15,000 acres of timberland. Foresters from all over the Southeast respect his timber management program.
He was president of Soperton Naval Stores, Inc., a family corporation, and managed the naval stores and timberland operations since 1938. He has served as past director and was president of the American Turpentine Farmers Association. He served as president of Georgia Forestry Association and also served as a member on the Board of Directors. The Georgia Forestry Association awarded him the 2007 Wise Owl Award. He was appointed to the Georgia Forestry Commission on February 14, 1977, and has been reappointed by each governor since. He had served continuously as chairman of the Georgia Forestry Commission from January 1981 until 2007. He continued to serve as a Georgia Forestry Commission board member until January 1, 2017. He is an honorary member of the Society of American Foresters and has been awarded their Golden Membership Award. In 2002, he was inducted into the Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame. The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association awarded Jim L. the Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, October 17, 2008, in recognition of exceptional services.
In business affairs, Jim L. was elected director of the Bank of Soperton on January 4, 1940, following the death of M.B. Gillis on August 26, 1939. He became vice president of the bank on January 8, 1952, and on June 10, 1960, he was elected president and served in that position until 1981. Mr. Jim L. served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank from October 29, 1974, thru September 28, 2016, and served as director emeritus. He was past president of the Georgia Bankers Association and served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee for two years.
Jim L. was elected district supervisor in the Ohoopee River Soil Conservation District in 1939. On May 4, 2010, he was given a 70-year plaque for extraordinary contributions. NRCS Chief Dave White presented a trophy in recognition of more than 70 years of conservation leadership in serving as a Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor from 1939-2009. He is the only person in our nation that has achieved that award, and he continued to serve until March 31, 2015. He was elected 2nd president of the Georgia Association of Soil Conservation Districts in 1945, and he served as chairman of the State Soil Conservation Committee for almost 24 years. In 1960, he was chosen “Outstanding Conservationist of Georgia” at the annual Governor’s Awards Banquet sponsored by Sears Roebuck & Co. and Georgia Sportsman Federation. On August 16, 1967, he was recognized as an honorary member of the Soil Conservation Society of America. In January 2001, he was inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame.
He was elected county commissioner of Treutlen County in 1961 and served for 40 years. He served as chairman of the Treutlen County Commissioners from 1973 to 2001. In 1969, Jim L. was elected president of the Georgia Association of County Commissioners. He also served on the Board of Managers for a number of years. In March 1961, he was named as the Georgian to receive the coveted “Citizen of the Year Award” which is presented annually by the Georgia Association of County Commissioners.
In civic affairs, Jim L. was a member of the Soperton Lions Club for over 75 years. He has served as past president and zone chairman. On May 31, 2014, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. He was active in Boy Scouts work and served for two years as finance chairman for the Pine Forest District of Boy Scouts and was on the National Council of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the President’s Club of the University of Georgia.
With all his other activities, Jim L. had neither the time nor the inclination to pursue a political career. However, he served one term in the State Senate from 1945-46. In 1959, Governor Ernest Vandiver appointed him to the State Democratic Executive Committee. He served as co-manager for the Lyndon B. Johnson campaign for president for the State of Georgia. He has also served as chairman of the Treutlen County Democratic Executive Committee. Jim L. served on the City Council of Soperton and was elected mayor of Soperton without opposition for five years.
Survivors include his children, Kate Hudmon Felton of Atlanta, Margaret Lois Clardy and husband John of Ocala, FL, and James Lester (Jimmy) Gillis, III and wife Justine of Soperton; grandchildren, G. Ogden Persons, III, Jim Gillis Persons, Katherine P. Kelly, Laura F. Trimble, Mary F. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, III, James G. Clardy, Alan R. Clardy, Margaret H. Platter, James L. Gillis, IV; great-grandchildren, Mary Katherine Persons, James Gillis Persons, Robert Parker Persons, Jackson Turner Persons, Harper Lee Kelly, Katherine W. Trimble, James Edward Trimble, Stephen W. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, IV, Katelin L. Clardy, John Steven Clardy, Ruby Kate Clardy, William McAllister Platter, James L. Gillis, V, Anna Hayes Platter, Chadwick Banner Gillis, James Gillis Clardy, Jr, and Grattan Fowler Gillis; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. James Lester Gillis, Jr., known by most people as “Jim L.”, age 101, passed away Monday, February 26, 2018.
Services will be held in the First Baptist Church, Soperton, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, with Reverend Andy Cook officiating. Burial will be in the Gillis Family Cemetery, Treutlen County, with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ogden Persons, Jim Persons, John Clardy, Alan Clardy, James Clardy and James Gillis IV. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
Mr. Jim L. was born October 2, 1916. He was the eldest of two sons of Jim L. Gillis, Sr. and Annie Lois Walker Gillis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two wives. He was married to Katherine Hudmon of Screven County on March 20, 1936, until her death on March 7, 1997. On January 14, 2001, Jim L. married Augusta Smith Woodcock of Haddock, GA, who passed away on September 3, 2006. Also preceding Jim L. in death was a daughter, Marianne Gillis Persons, two sisters, Martha Louise Gillis and Annie Lois Gillis, and a brother, Hugh Gillis Sr.
A lifelong resident of Treutlen County, he attended high school in Soperton where he was valedictorian, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1937, with a BS degree in forestry. He has been a member of First Baptist Church of Soperton since 1927 and is a member of the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
A banker, timberman, cattleman, and farmer, he has been very active in conservation work most of his life. He managed approximately 15,000 acres of timberland. Foresters from all over the Southeast respect his timber management program.
He was president of Soperton Naval Stores, Inc., a family corporation, and managed the naval stores and timberland operations since 1938. He has served as past director and was president of the American Turpentine Farmers Association. He served as president of Georgia Forestry Association and also served as a member on the Board of Directors. The Georgia Forestry Association awarded him the 2007 Wise Owl Award. He was appointed to the Georgia Forestry Commission on February 14, 1977, and has been reappointed by each governor since. He had served continuously as chairman of the Georgia Forestry Commission from January 1981 until 2007. He continued to serve as a Georgia Forestry Commission board member until January 1, 2017. He is an honorary member of the Society of American Foresters and has been awarded their Golden Membership Award. In 2002, he was inducted into the Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame. The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association awarded Jim L. the Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, October 17, 2008, in recognition of exceptional services.
In business affairs, Jim L. was elected director of the Bank of Soperton on January 4, 1940, following the death of M.B. Gillis on August 26, 1939. He became vice president of the bank on January 8, 1952, and on June 10, 1960, he was elected president and served in that position until 1981. Mr. Jim L. served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank from October 29, 1974, thru September 28, 2016, and served as director emeritus. He was past president of the Georgia Bankers Association and served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee for two years.
Jim L. was elected district supervisor in the Ohoopee River Soil Conservation District in 1939. On May 4, 2010, he was given a 70-year plaque for extraordinary contributions. NRCS Chief Dave White presented a trophy in recognition of more than 70 years of conservation leadership in serving as a Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor from 1939-2009. He is the only person in our nation that has achieved that award, and he continued to serve until March 31, 2015. He was elected 2nd president of the Georgia Association of Soil Conservation Districts in 1945, and he served as chairman of the State Soil Conservation Committee for almost 24 years. In 1960, he was chosen “Outstanding Conservationist of Georgia” at the annual Governor’s Awards Banquet sponsored by Sears Roebuck & Co. and Georgia Sportsman Federation. On August 16, 1967, he was recognized as an honorary member of the Soil Conservation Society of America. In January 2001, he was inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame.
He was elected county commissioner of Treutlen County in 1961 and served for 40 years. He served as chairman of the Treutlen County Commissioners from 1973 to 2001. In 1969, Jim L. was elected president of the Georgia Association of County Commissioners. He also served on the Board of Managers for a number of years. In March 1961, he was named as the Georgian to receive the coveted “Citizen of the Year Award” which is presented annually by the Georgia Association of County Commissioners.
In civic affairs, Jim L. was a member of the Soperton Lions Club for over 75 years. He has served as past president and zone chairman. On May 31, 2014, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. He was active in Boy Scouts work and served for two years as finance chairman for the Pine Forest District of Boy Scouts and was on the National Council of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the President’s Club of the University of Georgia.
With all his other activities, Jim L. had neither the time nor the inclination to pursue a political career. However, he served one term in the State Senate from 1945-46. In 1959, Governor Ernest Vandiver appointed him to the State Democratic Executive Committee. He served as co-manager for the Lyndon B. Johnson campaign for president for the State of Georgia. He has also served as chairman of the Treutlen County Democratic Executive Committee. Jim L. served on the City Council of Soperton and was elected mayor of Soperton without opposition for five years.
Survivors include his children, Kate Hudmon Felton of Atlanta, Margaret Lois Clardy and husband John of Ocala, FL, and James Lester (Jimmy) Gillis, III and wife Justine of Soperton; grandchildren, G. Ogden Persons, III, Jim Gillis Persons, Katherine P. Kelly, Laura F. Trimble, Mary F. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, III, James G. Clardy, Alan R. Clardy, Margaret H. Platter, James L. Gillis, IV; great-grandchildren, Mary Katherine Persons, James Gillis Persons, Robert Parker Persons, Jackson Turner Persons, Harper Lee Kelly, Katherine W. Trimble, James Edward Trimble, Stephen W. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, IV, Katelin L. Clardy, John Steven Clardy, Ruby Kate Clardy, William McAllister Platter, James L. Gillis, V, Anna Hayes Platter, Chadwick Banner Gillis, James Gillis Clardy, Jr, and Grattan Fowler Gillis; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held in the First Baptist Church, Soperton, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, with Reverend Andy Cook officiating. Burial will be in the Gillis Family Cemetery, Treutlen County, with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ogden Persons, Jim Persons, John Clardy, Alan Clardy, James Clardy and James Gillis IV. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
Mr. Jim L. was born October 2, 1916. He was the eldest of two sons of Jim L. Gillis, Sr. and Annie Lois Walker Gillis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two wives. He was married to Katherine Hudmon of Screven County on March 20, 1936, until her death on March 7, 1997. On January 14, 2001, Jim L. married Augusta Smith Woodcock of Haddock, GA, who passed away on September 3, 2006. Also preceding Jim L. in death was a daughter, Marianne Gillis Persons, two sisters, Martha Louise Gillis and Annie Lois Gillis, and a brother, Hugh Gillis Sr.
A lifelong resident of Treutlen County, he attended high school in Soperton where he was valedictorian, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1937, with a BS degree in forestry. He has been a member of First Baptist Church of Soperton since 1927 and is a member of the R.A. Perry Sunday School Class.
A banker, timberman, cattleman, and farmer, he has been very active in conservation work most of his life. He managed approximately 15,000 acres of timberland. Foresters from all over the Southeast respect his timber management program.
He was president of Soperton Naval Stores, Inc., a family corporation, and managed the naval stores and timberland operations since 1938. He has served as past director and was president of the American Turpentine Farmers Association. He served as president of Georgia Forestry Association and also served as a member on the Board of Directors. The Georgia Forestry Association awarded him the 2007 Wise Owl Award. He was appointed to the Georgia Forestry Commission on February 14, 1977, and has been reappointed by each governor since. He had served continuously as chairman of the Georgia Forestry Commission from January 1981 until 2007. He continued to serve as a Georgia Forestry Commission board member until January 1, 2017. He is an honorary member of the Society of American Foresters and has been awarded their Golden Membership Award. In 2002, he was inducted into the Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame. The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association awarded Jim L. the Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, October 17, 2008, in recognition of exceptional services.
In business affairs, Jim L. was elected director of the Bank of Soperton on January 4, 1940, following the death of M.B. Gillis on August 26, 1939. He became vice president of the bank on January 8, 1952, and on June 10, 1960, he was elected president and served in that position until 1981. Mr. Jim L. served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank from October 29, 1974, thru September 28, 2016, and served as director emeritus. He was past president of the Georgia Bankers Association and served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee for two years.
Jim L. was elected district supervisor in the Ohoopee River Soil Conservation District in 1939. On May 4, 2010, he was given a 70-year plaque for extraordinary contributions. NRCS Chief Dave White presented a trophy in recognition of more than 70 years of conservation leadership in serving as a Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor from 1939-2009. He is the only person in our nation that has achieved that award, and he continued to serve until March 31, 2015. He was elected 2nd president of the Georgia Association of Soil Conservation Districts in 1945, and he served as chairman of the State Soil Conservation Committee for almost 24 years. In 1960, he was chosen “Outstanding Conservationist of Georgia” at the annual Governor’s Awards Banquet sponsored by Sears Roebuck & Co. and Georgia Sportsman Federation. On August 16, 1967, he was recognized as an honorary member of the Soil Conservation Society of America. In January 2001, he was inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame.
He was elected county commissioner of Treutlen County in 1961 and served for 40 years. He served as chairman of the Treutlen County Commissioners from 1973 to 2001. In 1969, Jim L. was elected president of the Georgia Association of County Commissioners. He also served on the Board of Managers for a number of years. In March 1961, he was named as the Georgian to receive the coveted “Citizen of the Year Award” which is presented annually by the Georgia Association of County Commissioners.
In civic affairs, Jim L. was a member of the Soperton Lions Club for over 75 years. He has served as past president and zone chairman. On May 31, 2014, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. He was active in Boy Scouts work and served for two years as finance chairman for the Pine Forest District of Boy Scouts and was on the National Council of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the President’s Club of the University of Georgia.
With all his other activities, Jim L. had neither the time nor the inclination to pursue a political career. However, he served one term in the State Senate from 1945-46. In 1959, Governor Ernest Vandiver appointed him to the State Democratic Executive Committee. He served as co-manager for the Lyndon B. Johnson campaign for president for the State of Georgia. He has also served as chairman of the Treutlen County Democratic Executive Committee. Jim L. served on the City Council of Soperton and was elected mayor of Soperton without opposition for five years.
Survivors include his children, Kate Hudmon Felton of Atlanta, Margaret Lois Clardy and husband John of Ocala, FL, and James Lester (Jimmy) Gillis, III and wife Justine of Soperton; grandchildren, G. Ogden Persons, III, Jim Gillis Persons, Katherine P. Kelly, Laura F. Trimble, Mary F. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, III, James G. Clardy, Alan R. Clardy, Margaret H. Platter, James L. Gillis, IV; great-grandchildren, Mary Katherine Persons, James Gillis Persons, Robert Parker Persons, Jackson Turner Persons, Harper Lee Kelly, Katherine W. Trimble, James Edward Trimble, Stephen W. Shaffran, John S. Clardy, IV, Katelin L. Clardy, John Steven Clardy, Ruby Kate Clardy, William McAllister Platter, James L. Gillis, V, Anna Hayes Platter, Chadwick Banner Gillis, James Gillis Clardy, Jr, and Grattan Fowler Gillis; and several nieces and nephews.
Bio by: Olivia Williamson Braddy
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