Lt. Col. James "Jim" Hartwell Whatley

Lt. Col. James “Jim” Hartwell Whatley, Sr. peacefully passed away to his heavenly home on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. He was born in Delta, Ohio on February 19, 1936 to Reverend Simeon Lee Whatley and Nellie Warner Whatley.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his great-grandson, Rhett Christopher Foreman.

Jim is survived by his wife, Gail Ledbetter Whatley; his son, James Whatley, Jr. (Donna); and his daughter, Jill Whatley Bishop (Clay). He is also survived by grandchildren, René Whatley Foreman (Blaine), Bradford Whatley Bishop, James Whatley III (Brittany), Reid Clayton Bishop, and Connor Lee Whatley (Mary Grace); and great-grandchildren, Lily Katherine Elizabeth Foreman, West Clayton Bishop, Shepard James Foreman, and Emma Claire Elaine Foreman.

He is also survived by his best friend and brother-in-law, Roy Wayne Ledbetter, Sr.; his brothers, Samuel Lynwood Whatley (Sandy) and Reggie Simeon Whatley (Beverly); sister, Jane Whatley Wingo; and a host of much loved nieces and nephews.

Jim received his degree in pharmacy from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 1960 and maintained an active license throughout his life. He began his career with Schering Plough and worked there for 20 years serving as a director of sales in the central region before returning home to Birmingham. In Birmingham, he became a Pharmacy Supervisor at the Veterans Administration Hospital. He continued working at independent pharmacies until a few years before his death.

Jim's great loves were his God, his family, and his country. He was a member of Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham, and he loved a family get-together, car auctions, and Pecan Sandies. He was generous beyond belief, and he could not bear to see someone in need. He loved to work in his yard and have lunch with his Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers, which he did until he wasn’t able. He loved to travel, visiting all 50 states and many countries. He loved football, especially the SEC and Washington State.

Jim was proud to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. In 1955, he began his service with the Army in Frankfort, Germany as an E-4. After his return to the states, he continued as a member of the Army Reserve for another 20 years. He volunteered for active duty in 1990 during Desert Shield where he was stationed at Letterman Hospital at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.

Jim's family will greet friends at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama on Monday, October 2, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by A Service of Remembrance at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. The gravesite committal service with military honors will be at 12:30 p.m. at Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse or The Wounded Warrior Project.

Written tributes and messages of sympathy may be shared at James Hartwell Whatley Sr.'s page at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for the family.