James Allen Anchors Jr.

July 16, 1930 - December 4, 2013

died peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday. The only son of Virginia Pharr Anchors and James Allen Anchors, he was born in Jasper, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Air Force at Piontek and Kimpo Air Force Bases in Korea under the MAG 12 during the Korean War. He met his lovely bride, Mary, in Mobile, Alabama while stationed at Brookley Air Force Base. After they married, Jim graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering and was a member of the Engineering Honor Society Alpha Pi Mu, as well as the Kappa Alpha Order.

Jim worked as an engineer for GE, Southern Company Services, and retiring from BE&K. He was an avid golfer who always enjoyed playing golf with his three sons. He loved hosting the family's annual golf tournament "Anchors Memorial Classic" in honor of his father, James Allen Anchors, Sr. where he won multiple years.

To cherish his memory, Jim is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary Odette Taylor Anchors, and four children, Leigh (Don) Delashaw, Rob (Judy) Anchors, David (Denise) Anchors, and Don Anchors. He had seven grandchildren: Chad, Cory, Katlin (Adam) Newman, Taylor Anchors, Lauren and Hannah Delashaw, and Mark Underhill; and one great-grandchild, Ava Hope Newman.

Jim was very active with the Alabama Woodworkers Guild and found great joy with making wooden toys for Children’s Hospital. He was honored for making flag cases for the 9/11 victims. He was also a member of the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church Choir and the Birmingham Choral Guild. Jim loved to work with his strong hands and spend time pruning rose bushes at The Oaks on Parkwood.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama. The military graveside service will follow in Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to UAB Dept. of Neurology, 1720 7th Ave. S., SC 360B, Birmingham, AL 35294-0017.