Obituary for James Watson Spradley SPRADLEY, James Watson Spradley died peacefully at home on October 25, 2018 in Eastman, GA at the age of 94. Born in Pinehurst, Georgia, he was the son of the late Ossie T. and Mary Kenneth Watson Spradley. Visitation will be held on Saturday, the 27th of October from 6:30 to 8:30 at Hardy-Towns Funeral Home in Eastman.
Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, the 28th of October at two o’clock at Hardy-Towns Funeral Home in Eastman. Rev. Wayne McDaniel will officiate the ceremony.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn Mallard Spradley, brother Jonah Bivens Watson, and sister Leila Spradley Winters. He is survived by brother, Ossie Thomas Spradley, Jr. of Pinehurst and sister Lena Spradley Daniel of Tyron, NC and his children James Watson Spradley, Jr. (Frances) of Nashville, TN, Melissa “Missy” Spradley Collins (Randy) of Wheeler County, GA, Kenneth Mallard Spradley of Chattanooga, TN, Neil Bryan Spradley (Rae) of Eastman, and Meredith “Duffy” Spradley Spradley (Jody) of Rock Hill, SC. Surviving grandchildren are Joseph Meir Spradley of Nashville, TN, Laurie Hunt Spradley of Nashville, TN, Julius Odell Spradley, III “Tripp” (Annie) of Dallas, Texas, Mary Cannon Swain (Stewart) of Tuscaloosa, AL, Henry James Spradley of New Orleans, LA, William Lamar Collins of Wheeler County, GA, Cannon Hayes Spradley, of Rock Hill, SC, Jamie Watson Spradley, of Birmingham, AL, Walker Thomas Spradley of Eastman, GA, Andrew Gordon Collins, of Wheeler County, GA, Neil Perry Spradley of Eastman, GA, as well as great-grandchildren Peter Hayes Spradley and Amelia Mason Spradley, both of Dallas, TX.
Jim graduated from Pinehurst High School before serving in the Pacific Campaign of WWII in the United States Navy. Jim graduated from Princeton University, class of 1948, Cum Laude in Economics. He co-founded and served as president of Aunt Fanny’s Bakery in Atlanta, GA.
In 1966 the business was sold to Pet, Inc. After the sale, Jim was appointed Vice-President, head of Pet’s Bakery Frozen Food Division. In 1969, Pet promoted him President of Stuckey’s Inc., in Eastman, GA. He served several terms as a director of the National Confectioner’s Association.
He retired from Pet, Inc in 1979. In 1982 he and his son purchased a controlling interest in Standard Candy Company in Nashville, TN. He served as chairman emeritus of the company until his death.
Jim contributed to his community as Chairman of the Board for the Dodge County Hospital Authority, Director of the First Citizen’s Bank and Trust, Director of the Ocmulgee General Library and Georgia Freight Bureau. Other positions included Chairman of the Georgia Business and Industry Association, Council Member of the Boy Scouts of America, and Regional Director of Young Life. Jim was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Business Council of Georgia, the Review Panel for the State Bar of Georgia, was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Heart of Georgia Technical Institute, and was appointed by Georgia Gov.
Zell Miller, Interim Commissioner of Dodge County. Of the numerous awards and honors bestowed upon Jim, his favorites included the Distinguished Service Award from the National Confectioner’s Association, 1982 Entrepreneur of the Year from the Georgia Industrial Development Association, and the 1986 Governor’s Spirit of Georgia award. Concurrent to all of these volunteer positions, Jim gave continuous support and attention to his church, Rotary International, and Presbyterian College.
He served as an Elder and member of the First Presbyterian Church, Eastman, GA and Savannah Presbytery, serving as lay leader and on numerous committees and councils. He joined Rotary International in 1970 with perfect attendance from 1973 to 2016. From 1972 to 2001, Jim served as a Trustee of Presbyterian College.
The college bestowed on him the title Trustee Emeritus in 2002 and awarded him the Doctor of Commercial Science degree. In 2011, he was selected as the Distinguished Member of the William Plumer Jacobs Society and the college recognized Jim’s years of service by naming the newly constructed senior dormitory “Spradley Hall”. Jim will be remembered for his entrepreneurial spirit, kindness, and self-sacrifice, and will be loved by the many lives he touched.
The family would like to thank the wonderful extended family of caregivers: Takela Adams, Juanita Hall, Angela Lewis, Johanna White, Karen Yawn, and Jeff Breedlove, as well as Billy Frost, Dr. Donald Selph and Beverly Peterson, RN. In leiu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Saul Rubin and Jim Spradley Rotary Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or The First Presbyterian Church of Eastman, GA. Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman is in charge of arrangements.
www. hardy-towns.com Upcoming Events Visitation , OCT 27. 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Hardy-Towns Funeral Home 6399 Oak St. Eastman, GA, US, 31023 phardy2727@hotmail.com Funeral Service , OCT 28.
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