James Joseph Walton Biggers Jr.

James Joseph Walton Biggers, Jr. died on December 20, 2017 at home surrounded by family. A private burial will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus on Friday, December 22, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. with the Reverend Joel L. Alvis, Jr., Ph.D. presiding.

The family will receive guests in the reception area of the church following the service.

Mr. Biggers was born January 26, 1922 in Decatur, Georgia the son of James Joseph Walton Biggers and Sammie Allison Livingston Biggers. A descendant of a family which moved to the Chattahoochee Valley in 1826, he spent the vast majority of his life in Columbus.

He graduated from Columbus High School and attended Georgia Tech where he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. The following year he transferred to Auburn University. On December 7, 1942 he volunteered for the United States Air Corp in which he served for three and a half years. After his military service, Mr. Biggers returned to Auburn and was captain of the Auburn tennis team. He graduated with a degree in business administration in 1949.

Mr. Biggers returned to Columbus and began his business career in sales with WRBL. An avid sports enthusiast, he also represented the Peek’ Size football guides.

In 1951 Mr. Biggers married the former Janice Henderson Persons and to this union were born two daughters, Elizabeth Allison Biggers and Catherine Persons Biggers.

Later in his business career he was associated with architectural firms headed by his father.

Mr. Biggers was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Georgia and a past president of the Columbus Boys Club. A former long term member of the Country Club of Columbus, he chaired numerous golf and tennis tournaments and served on the board. He was also a member of the Big Eddy Club, and for over fifty years he was a loyal member of the Rotary Club of Columbus.

Mr. Biggers is predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Mary Josephine Biggers Bennett, and Margaret Sue Biggers Kennedy. Mr. Biggers is survived by his wife, a daughter Elizabeth Allison Biggers Gardner (John Randolph Gardner, Jr), of Atlanta, daughter Catherine Persons Biggers Trotter (Perrin Collier Trotter), a grandson Perrin Collier Trotter, Jr. (Erin Bass Trotter), great granddaughters Elizabeth Reynolds Trotter and Florence Persons Trotter, nieces and a nephew.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to remember Mr. Biggers may contribute to the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Georgia 1100 First Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31901, The Rotary International Foundation, P. O. Box 1138 Columbus, Georgia 31902 or to a church of their choice.