James Monroe Gilmore

James Monroe Gilmore, 80, of Putney, died on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Willson House surrounded by his loving family after a year-long battle with cancer. Born on January 26, 1932 near Ellaville in Schley County, he was the son of the late Harvey Jackson Jack Gilmore and Ethel Gertrude McCarty. Growing up during the Great Depression, James's early years, spent working on the farm, taught him the value of hard work and self-education. His first several years of employment were spent at Coats and Clark in Thomasville and then Sno-White Laundry in Albany. In 1964 James bought a house in Putney, and it is there that he lived the remainder of his life. During those years he supplemented his income by playing bass guitar and singing at venues such as American Legions, VFWs, etc. In 1969 James went to work for Southern Bell, spending the first year commuting back and forth from Atlanta in his Volkswagen Beetle while he was being trained. He remained with the telephone company through the years as it transitioned to Bell South and then ATT, finally retiring in 1990. Being the baby of the family, and too young to serve in WWII with his brothers, James did serve a stint in the National Guard later, being appointed a small arms instructor. In fact, James was well-respected by management. He greatly enjoyed playing pool and earned the respect and affection of many young players he mentored over the years, most of whom called him Mr. James, while some teasingly referred to him as Slick, knowing that he would never take advantage of an opponent. James enjoyed working in the yard, tending his azaleas, dogwoods, day lilies, and vegetables; playing pool, playing with his cats, visiting his friends at Three Squares in Lee County, playing bass and steel guitar, reading westerns, watching the Braves, playing solitaire on the computer, and playing the ham whenever the opportunity provided itself. He had a winning smile, a ready wit, and was well-liked or loved by many. The creed of his life, and one of his favorite sayings, was “I’d rather have a friend than a dollar”, and he taught this to his grandchildren. Throughout his years in Putney, it pleased him to be a loyal friend and a good neighbor. James was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Harry, Hoyt, and Robert Edward Gilmore, and his sister, Marvella and her husband, Bob Culberson, and a brother-in-law, Dorsey Millwood. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Emma Jean Jordan Gilmore, two daughters, Christine Renee Gilmore Lowery and Ann Laverne Gilmore Parker, both of Leesburg, two sons, James Edward (Eddie) Gilmore, of Albany, and Glenn Patrick Gilmore, of Putney; a sister, Moncile Millwood, Americus, and two brothers, Harvey Lester Gilmore, of Vienna, and Emory Gordon Gilmore and his wife Doris, of Pelham; two grandchildren, Stacey Johnson, of Fayetteville, NC, and Jay Edward and his wife (Jennifer) Gilmore, of Cordele; great-grandchildren, Kyle Mitchell Bates of Ogden, Utah, Zachary Zack Lynn Bates of Pooler, Georgia Charity Elizabeth Gilmore of Cordele, and Abigail Abby Rebecca Gilmore of Cordele; nineteen nieces and nephews; special friend Larry Bulloch of Camilla and many more loving and caring friends. Visitation will be at Hall and Hall Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM with Glenda Woods, Randy Culberson and Rev. Chuck Smith officiating. Musical selections will be rendered by Mrs. Wilma Smith accompanied by Mrs. Gwen Beck. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memory Gardens in Pelham, Georgia. The family has requested donations to the American Cancer Society 323 Pine Avenue Albany, GA 31701, or Willson Hospice House. 320 Foundation Lane Albany, GA 31707. Hall and Hall Funeral Home 324 South Mock Road, Albany, GA 31705 has been entrusted by the family to handle funeral arrangements.