James G. Wylie Jr.

James G. Wylie, Jr of Charlotte, North Carolina passed away peacefully at the age of 99 years old on June 18, 2026 at The Charlotte Assisted Living and Memory Care facility. He was born July 18, 1926 to James G. Wylie, Sr and Julia Turner Wylie, in Spencer, NC. At two years old, his family moved to Blacksburg, SC where he grew up and graduated high school. Jim left Blacksburg to work at Newport News Shipbuilding until he was 18 when he joined the US Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman. After the end of hostilities in World War II, he left military service to attend Wofford College on the GI Bill and a football scholarship where he became an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. In 1952 he met and married his lovely wife Margie Ree Bellamy, a marriage that lasted 74 years. Jim began a 41-year career with Southern Bell as a roving advertisement salesman and worked his way up to a top local executive for Bellsouth in Charlotte.

Jim was heavily involved in church and civic duties, having served as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Convention Committee, past president of the Charlotte Wofford Alumni Association, the Board of Directors of the Hezekiah Alexander Foundation, president of the 1970 Carolina Carousel, Inc, the Board of Theatre Charlotte, Charter Member of Sertoma Club plus many others. Most of all, he loved teaching men’s Sunday School to his closest friends for 46 years as well as being a deacon and serving on most committees of the Providence Baptist Church. He was instrumental in raising money and building the Columbarium at Providence Baptist Church.

Jim was an avid gardener, nature lover and plant collector, spending most of his free time planting and cultivating the flowers and plants he collected from all over the continent and bringing them to life in his beautiful yard ~ a love that began at 5 years old and kept him healthy and happy until his life’s end. His many other interests and special memories included; reading about science, animals and history; building lamps from antique bottles or oceanside driftwood and wagon wheel tables from his grandparent’s farm; canoe trip adventures down the Pee Dee River with his 4 children; volunteering with his son’s Boy Scout troop; and yearly beach trips with his entire family.

He is survived by his wife Margie Bellamy Wylie, his daughters Deborah Koenig, Teressa McWilliams, Kimberly Wylie and his son, James Philip Wylie. He is the proud Grandpa of seven grandchildren; Elyse and Tess Koenig, Lindsay McWilliams, Olivia and Marley McMahon, Arwen and James Nolan Wylie. Tess Koenig and her husband Daniel are the parents of Jim’s great grandson, Davis Armstrong de la Nuez. His sons-in law are Chet Koenig, Richard McWilliams, and Steve McMahon. He is survived by his sister, Julia Bumgarner. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ola Nell Yelton, and his brother Jerome Wylie. He loved his family dearly and proudly!

All who met Jim knew him to be a fair and reverent man who listened to others attentively, prayed on his decision making concerning his family and friends, was a boundless well of love for those he cherished, quick to make a joke that would bring laughter and smiles, and solid as granite on his values and principles. All these attributes made him the best husband, father, brother, and teacher….his life and legacy will be cherished by all he touched.

Memorial services will be held on July 18, 2026 at 1:00pm in The Sanctuary at Providence Baptist Church at 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC and cremains will be interred in the columbarium.

Donations may be made to the Habitat for Humanity or to Providence Baptist Church.