Mr. Jimmy F. “Jim” Champion, 81, of Albany died Sunday February 9, 2014 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 3 p.m. in the Salem Baptist Church with interment following in the church cemetery. Reverends Jackie Cabaniss and Ralph Simmons will officiate.
Serving as active pallbearers are Laney Wooten, Danny Bridges, Henry Mims, Hank Youngblood, Scott Andrews and Scotty Bates. The deacons of Salem Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Mr. Champion was born April 12, 1932 in Crisp County, GA to Eliza David and Camilla Ingram Champion. Mr. Champion was reared by his grandparents, Jim and Ella Champion in Warwick, GA and was a 1949 graduate of Warwick High School. He was a retired farmer and retired from the Dougherty County Board of Education as a bus driver. He enjoyed quail hunting. Mr. Champion was a member and deacon of Salem Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, was a Silver Saint and served on the building committee. Mr. & Mrs. Champion celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on December 25, 2013.
Survivors include his wife, Elma Lee Harris Champion, of Albany; son, Dennis Champion (Penny) of Sylvester; daughter, Beverly C. Hendrix (Billy) of Sylvester; grandchildren, Jim Champion, Allison Sumner (Taylor), Jennifer McDougald (Kelly) and Whitney Hendrix; great-grandchildren, Jackson Sumner, Ben and Kolton McDougald.
The family would like to especially thank Mr. Champion’s caregivers, Patty Span, Mary Anderson, Martha Milledge, Lawanda Davis and Juanita Peavy.
For those desiring memorials may be made to Salem Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Ray McCrary, 1015 Woodcrest Rd. Sylvester, GA 31791.
Sign our online guest registry at www.banksfh.com
Banks Funeral Home in Sylvester is in charge of the arrangements.
