James Gilbert Lyerly Jr.

Dr. James Gilbert Lyerly, Jr., age 96, died in Jacksonville Tuesday, August 3, 2021. A native of Richmond, Va., at the age of eight he moved to Jacksonville, Fla. where his father, Dr. James G. Lyerly, Sr., became the first neurosurgeon in the State of Florida. Jim attended Robert E. Lee High School, Duke University and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia specializing in neurosurgery. Jim was in the Navy during World War II. Jim met his future wife, Fairfax Polk Mitchell, while in Richmond, Va. They married and moved to Jacksonville where Jim joined his father in his neurosurgical practice, The Lyerly Neurosurgical Group.

Jim cared for patients at all hospitals in the area with his main practice at St. Vincent’s Riverside where he was, at one time, Chief of Neurosurgery. He was a member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, the Duval County Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He retired early in 1980, after his wife Fairfax died, in order to stay home and raise his children. In 1985, Jim married Jean “Pokey” Bartley Towers and they were together until his passing.

Jim loved his family and had an uncanny knack of finding vacation homes in “old Florida” before they were discovered by others. Jim grew up on the St. Johns River and spent quite a bit of his time boating and fishing. His love of the water continued throughout his life and he had vacation homes, at times, in South Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Pine Island, and Welaka. He was a member of the Timiquana Country Club and Florida Yacht Club.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Emily McIlwaine Lyerly and James Gilbert Lyerly; Sister Ann Lyerly Blankenship, Sister Peggy Lyerly Lebo, Brother Thomas Jackson Lyerly; son William Mitchell Lyerly; and wife Fairfax Mitchell Lyerly (1927-1980). Jim is survived by wife Jean Bartley Towers Lyerly (and her children/grandchildren), daughter Fairfax Lyerly Vickers (Richard), son James Gilbert Lyerly, III, son John McIlwaine Lyerly (Amy); grandchildren Richard McAuley Vickers, Fairfax Vickers Kadziszewski (Tom), Barbara Katherine Lyerly, Emily Paige Lyerly, James Gilbert Lyerly, IV, John McIlwaine Lyerly, Jr., and Caroline Vason Lyerly.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Children's Home Society of

Florida, 3027 San Diego Rd., Jacksonville, Fla. 32207.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 16th at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida.