James Gadsden Wilcox Jr.

James Gadsden Wilcox, Jr., known to his family as “Big Jim”, passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at the age of 87. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 4th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Macon, GA at 11am with a visitation/reception immediately following in the Parish Hall of the church. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Macon, GA.

Jim was born on June 3, 1937 in Atlanta, GA to James Gadsden Wilcox, Sr. and Harriett Wynne Wilcox Bethea. He graduated from Sewanee Military Academy in 1955 and the University of Georgia in 1960 where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Jim was an insurance agent for over 20 years beginning at James G. Wilcox Insurance Agency in Atlanta until he bought Sam Chandler Insurance and moved his family to Macon in 1976. During that time, he served as president of The Independent Insurance of Agents of Atlanta and Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia. He then went to work for Wilson Typewriter and Adding Machine Company with his father-in-law, the late G. Hill Wilson later becoming the owner of Wilson Business Products and Griffin’s BBQ Sauce Company. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, The Rotary Club of Macon, South Eastern Regional Office Machine Dealers Association, as well as a member of the Macon Downtown Council, and named Macon’s Small Business Owner of the Year. He also served on the Vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as both Junior and Senior Warden.

He was an avid hunter, music enthusiast, Bulldog fan, collector of Georgia Pottery, and loved nothing more than his wife, children and family. Jim was preceded in death by his parents James G. Wilcox, Sr and Harriett Wynne Wilcox Bethea; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jenna Lee and Bill Cummings of Rockmart, Georgia and brother-in-law Coleman Tidwell of Macon, GA.

He is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth “Betty” Wilcox. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on June 11th. He is also survived by his brother Peter W. Wilcox (Diana) of Atlanta, Georgia; his sons James G. Wilcox, III (Kathy) and Hill W. Wilcox of Macon, GA, and daughter Harriett Wilcox Whitaker (Brad) of Chattanooga, TN; his grandchildren Susan Bassett, George Bassett, IV (Breanna), Jaime Smith (Ray), Michael Wilcox (Stephanie), Dusty Wilcox (Cierra), Audie Newsome (Jordan), Rebecca Wilcox, Sarah Whitaker, Robert Whitaker, II, and Henry Whitaker; 11 great-grandchildren Amber Bassett, George Bassett, V, Sellers Bassett, Theodore James Smith, Emma Claire Wilcox, Leah Wilcox, Piper Wilcox, Zoe Wilcox, Jack Wilcox, Haven Wilcox, Palmer Kate Newsome, and Parker James Newsome; sisters-in-law, Eloise (Billy) Dasher and Hilda (Eddie) Hight both of Macon; and cousins and many nieces and nephews.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of arrangements.