James Hamilton Alexander

James H. Alexander, age 92, of St. Simons Island, died Monday, March 23, 2015. Mr. Alexander was born October 15, 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia to John Tillman Alexander and Annie Kate Patterson Alexander. He graduated from William Russell High School on May 31, 1940, then joined the Navy where he was a 1st class aviation machinist at the 1st Naval Station on St. Simons Island in 1941. He worked on B 24 and B 25 bombers and helped strip planes of excess weight so they could be shipped to California to drop bombs on Hiroshima. He left the Navy in 1946 and joined the Air Force, serving under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman during World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Alexander was wounded by a gun shot during the Korean War and received an honorable discharge from the Air Force in September of 1952.

He was an honorary volunteer fire fighter member of the American Legion and was also a member of the Shivers hunting club, Tuesday night Supper Club, River Rats and Two Way Sports fishing club. He was a charter member of the 224th JCSS Georgia Air National Guard in the 1950’s. Mr. Alexander also retired from Georgia Pacific after over 37 years of service. He was instrumental in building the youth baseball fields at Mallory Park on St. Simons Island and served as a coach to many of the youth that participated in youth sports on the Island.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jean Morel Smith Alexander, his parents, John Tillman Alexander and Annie Kate Patterson Alexander and a grandson, Robert Drawdy.

He is survived by two sons, Carl Alexander and his wife Susan and Gene Alexander and his wife Jane; his daughter, Margret Peggy Mills and her husband Kenny; three brothers, John Aubrey Alexander and his wife Donna, Doug Alexander and his wife June and J.T. Alexander Jr. and his wife Heather; two sisters, Julia Barrett and Catherine Hawkins; 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.

A memorial service with Military Honors will be held Thursday at 10:00 am at Christ Church, Frederica. Honorary pallbearers will be Fran Anzak, Ricky Snell, Ray Starling, Alvin Yarbrough, members of the Shivers hunting club, Tuesday night Supper Club, River Rats, Two Way Sports fishing club and the 224th JCSS Georgia Air National Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Church Cemetery Maintenance Fund or to Hospice of the Golden Isles.