James Russell Stanton

James (“Jim”) Russell Stanton passed away Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. He was born Sept. 6, 1947, in Selma, Alabama, to the late John Edwin and Lillian Louise Russell Stanton. He was raised in Henry County with many cousins and other family members nearby. Jim graduated from Henry County High School and then earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia.

After graduating from UGA, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Most of his service time was spent in Northern Ireland. That gave him plenty of stories to share, such as being assigned a communications job because he knew how to type; gauging the proximity of Irish fighting by whether pictures rattled on the wall; and adventures in town and the surrounding areas during off-duty time. He was transferred to Meridian, Mississippi, and was honorably discharged in 1975.

Following his discharge, Jim earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida. He returned to McDonough after graduation and worked for the Henry County Department of Family and Children’s Services. He left that role to join the newspaper staff of the Laurel Leader-Call in Laurel, Mississippi, in 1982.

Jim covered local and state news for the Leader-Call and became the paper’s news editor, then assistant managing editor. He wrote a weekly column from 1983-1990, which often included tales of growing up in McDonough and escapades during college. His columns were laced with humor, whether he was poking fun at himself or theorizing about why all the socks in his drawer suddenly had holes or how the lightbulbs in his apartment must have ways to communicate since they all needed to be replaced within days of each other.

Jim volunteered with United Way and the Laurel Little Theater while in Mississippi. His love for community theater continued when he moved back to McDonough. He was a founding member of the Henry Players, held roles in multiple productions, and served on the board of directors for many years. He was a longtime season ticket holder and always invited someone to attend with him — especially his great-niece and -nephew for the annual children’s productions — and often gave his tickets to people he thought would especially enjoy a show.

In addition to his writing, Jim was a voracious reader. His shelves held some fiction but overflowed with nonfiction: American and Irish history; memoirs and biographies; literary classics; and collections about The Beatles and other favorite music groups. He kept lists of the books he’d read and liked to reread his favorites.

Anyone who had a question about family history knew to ask Jim. He easily remembered people, dates, and facts. If he didn’t know the answer off the top of his head, he could probably find it in the many genealogy records and oral histories in his filing cabinet.

Jim’s love for UGA football was unwavering. He attended every game he could while a student in Athens, and many afterwards — including a spur-of-the-moment road trip to Tennessee with a friend to watch a young Herschel Walker play and the 1981 Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. He was known to call people after football games simply to say, “How ‘bout them Dawgs!”

Jim also loved his church, McDonough Presbyterian, and the people of it. He volunteered as a greeter and usher for many years and proofread the bulletin before it was printed each week. He could usually be found helping serve cookies or juice during community blood drives. But his favorite way to volunteer was through programs for Clifton Sanctuary Ministries in Atlanta. He always made chocolate peanut butter bars when the church hosted dinners for some of the shelter’s men (and would make extras to share with church members he knew had a sweet tooth). He delivered countless bags of clothing that church members collected for the shelter, even after he retired and was no longer driving to Atlanta every day.

Jim was a believer in sending cards to mark special occasions, holding doors open for women, and wearing a coat to church on Sunday morning. The family and friends he loved so much will miss him greatly.

He is survived by his sister, Nelle (Bill) Bowen; nieces Carol (Wayne) Fears and Leigh (Scott) DeLozier; great-nephew Jonathan (Kenna) DeLozier; great-niece Callie DeLozier; and many cousins and extended family members.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Haisten Funerals & Cremations, 1745 Zack Hinton Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253. The family will greet friends an hour prior from 10-11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Hands of Hope Clinic (1010 Hospital Drive, Building B, Stockbridge); Helping in His Name Ministries Food Pantry (85 Bellamy Place, Stockbridge); or the minister’s kindness fund at McDonough Presbyterian Church (427 McGarity Road, McDonough).