James Henry Shaw

James Henry Shaw, 97, passed away April 28, 2016. He was born on January 12, 1919, in Ray City, Georgia. James was the third of four sons born to Rosa and Aubrey Shaw. He grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, where he met his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Garbutt. James and Elizabeth were married for 72 years before she passed away in 2012. After completing high school James enlisted in the U.S. Marines during WWII. He served as a machine gunner with the First Marine Division in the South Pacific and was awarded the Purple Heart for battle wounds sustained in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He later served in the occupation of China.

James had a successful career with Railway Express and later Transamerica Corporation. Upon retirement he moved to Tallahassee where his daughter, Janice Shaw Marsh, and her family live. James was active in his church, St. Paul’s Methodist. He is survived by his daughter, Janice Marsh (Raymond) of Tallahassee, his son Aubrey Allan Shaw of Biloxi, Mississippi, and six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the Brookdale Sterling House for all they have done for the care of James and his wife Elizabeth. They would also like to thank Dr. Don Zorn and his staff for the loving care they have provided their dad for over 25 years.

Graveside services will be conducted on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 11:00 AM, at Roselawn Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Big Bend Hospice.