James Wilson Wimberly

After a long illness, James Wilson Wimberly died on December 15, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on March 7, 1919 and raised in Waynesboro, Georgia, where he was president of his high school class. His parents were Chandler Wilson Wimberly and Margaret Ellen McKie Wimberly. Upon graduation from high school, Jim's father "encouraged" him to attend the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he played college football for two years. Jim decided the military lifestyle was not for him and, in 1940, he transferred to the University of Georgia, as a junior. He joined his father's fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. At UGA he met the love of his life, Helen Boardman of Augusta, and they were married right after they both graduated from UGA. Ironically, Helen had also been "encouraged" to attend a girls school in Washington, D.C. before transferring to UGA. Both Jim and Helen looked upon their days at the University of Georgia together with great affection. A week after Jim graduated from college, a friend suggested that he apply for a job at the budding Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. Jim did, and the rest is history: Coca-Cola was the only employer he ever had (aside from his time serving in the United States Army). He started as a delivery man and worked his way up the corporate ladder to regional vice president. His primary responsibility at Coca-Cola was to manage the relationship between the company and its bottlers, who at the time were independent business persons. Jim knew all the bottlers across the Southeast and treasured his relationship with them. He kept up with them even after he retired from Coca-Cola and never went a day without drinking a Coca-Cola. Several of the Company's original artifacts were gifted to Mr. Wimberly, some of which are now on display at the Atlanta Historical Society and the World of Coke. Jim and Helen were very social, and for many years delighted in entertaining guests at every available opportunity. Jim made a point to go around to talk to virtually everyone present and enjoyed sharing stories with his guests about their respective hometowns and mutual friends. He was outdone in his social graciousness only by his wife, Helen, whom he adored. Jim and Helen were known for facilitating many social reunions, including reunions of old UGA classmates, golfers and Coca-Cola friends. Jim was a long-standing deacon at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Buckhead, where he became a member in 1946. He donated his family home in Waynesboro to a charitable organization that is now known as Wimberly House Ministries. Outside of church and family, Mr. Wimberly's greatest love was perhaps golf in general, and the Peachtree Golf Club in particular. He played in a regular foursome at Peachtree Golf Club for many, many years, and enjoyed every moment there. Mr. Wimberly and Helen enjoyed spending their summers in Lower Slaughter, England, and later at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, where they maintained a summer cottage. They were rarely alone there, constantly entertaining guests. Jim resided with Helen, his wife of nearly 70 years who passed away six years earlier, at Lenbrook Square in Atlanta, where they were surrounded by friends. Mr. Wimberly is survived by his two sons, James W. Wimberly, Jr., an attorney in Atlanta, and Clayton Boardman Wimberly, a physician in Rome, Georgia; two grandsons, Thomas Phinizy and Clayton Boardman Wimberly, Jr.; two granddaughters, Mary Helen Wimberly and Caroline Wilson Wimberly; sister, Ellen Campbell; one daughter-in-law, Margaret Mackie Wimberly; and his former daughter-in-law, Helen West Wimberly. A graveside service will be held at the Summerville Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 3 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wimberly House Ministries, INC P.O. Box 50, Waynesboro, Georgia, 30830.