A visitation/reception will be held Monday, September 16th at 11:00 a.m. at Morningside Baptist Church in Columbus, GA, with a memorial service following at 1:00 p.m. Family members will gather for a private interment which will be held at Parkhill Cemetery following the service.
Jim was born the son of James Cephas Money and Esther (Blalock) Money in Screamer, barely a crossroads in the tiny farming community of Shorterville, a few miles outside of Abbeville, Alabama.
Jim was a born-again believer, a man of deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ, with a lifelong service to his church, where he served for decades as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.
Jim was known for his rock-solid integrity as well as his technical and analytical abilities in his professional career in the US Air Force and later in his career as a professional insurance agent with New York Life Insurance Company. Jim was a great story teller, which was a treasure in later years, with many, many colorful stories of days gone by. Jim was loved and admired most for his plain-spoken words of wisdom and encouragement.
Jim enjoyed the beauty and adventure of the great outdoors and was a life-long outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish and looked forward all year long to the spring turkey season. What he loved the most, though, was vegetable gardening. He enjoyed working the soil and always grew the most beautiful tomatoes, peas, and okra, which he generously shared with friends and family.
Jim was born in rural south Alabama during the Great Depression. Hard work, along with family and neighborly love was abundant, but money was scarce. Jim grew up fast, going from boy to man quickly as his three older brothers went off to war and his parents were away caring for his sister Mildred, who was suffering from TB. Jim never quite made it to high school, as he was needed at home to help take care of the farm. As a 16-year-old young man, he helped his father make a crop only with the reluctant assistance of two stubborn mules named Queenie and Gee! No tractor available or needed! Jim developed an incredible work ethic which was an inspiration to many and served him well throughout his entire life.
Jim left the farm and enlisted in the US Air Force in 1950, where he quickly rose to the rank of staff sergeant and at 21 was promoted to Crew Chief of a B-29 while stationed at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam Island. It was about this time that Jim realized a lifelong personal dream and was finally able to buy his father a farm tractor! Jim also completed much of his formal education and additional technical training during these years. He later served for many years in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a ballistic missile engine technician. He retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant in 1969 with 20 years of service. He then joined New York Life Insurance Company where he spent 25 years as a professional life insurance agent. Jim earned The Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations from the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He retired for good after 25 years of service in 1995.
Material things did not impress Jim Money. Jim lived a purpose-driven life with love of family, and service to others as the only things that really mattered. The void created by his absence will be felt by all who knew him, but none more than the love of his life, his beloved wife of 71 years, Elma Ruth (Kirkland) Money. Together they raised a beautiful family that includes their sons James R. (Jim) Money, Jr. (married to Laurie Bradfield) and Paul T. (Tim) Money (married to Mariana Burdette). He was pre-deceased by his beloved daughter Melanie K. Money in 1994. Jim is survived by 7 wonderful grandchildren whom he considered a gift and great joy: James Stanley Rozycki (Blake), Jenny Lee Hattaway (Brett), Emily Anne Hendrick (Micah), James Caleb Money (Lauren), Julianna Ruth Money, Paul Timothy Money, Jr. (Abi), and Silas McPherson Money (Katy), and 8 beautiful great grandchildren: Layla Ruth Hendrick, Ava Mae Hendrick, Ellison James Hendrick, Vivian Lee Hattaway, Jude William Hattaway, Paul Timothy Money, III, Clara Mae Money and Solomon James Money.
The family is so thankful and deeply appreciative of the care and attention given to Jim over the last 3 months with special thanks to Roxie, Doreen, Neet, Renee, and Keisha.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Melanie K. Money memorial scholarship in nursing at the Columbus State University Foundation. https://almabase.columbusstate.edu/g/melanie-money
