James Neville LeDuke, Jr. (Jim, or Jimmy, to the many who loved him), age 82, of Ellenwood, Georgia, passed away on December 21, 2025.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Catherine Frazier Patty LeDuke and James Neville LeDuke, Sr., and by his sister, Cathie LeDuke Locher.
He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Marty LeDuke; his daughters, Jennifer Lott (Dan), Amanda LeDuke (David), and Denise Chapman (John); his son, H.R. Tuttle (Marie); his brother, Richard LeDuke; his "sister" Sue Hurst; his grandchildren, Bethany Singleton, Emily Chapman, Ashlyn McNabb, Alyssa Tuttle, Henry Lott, and Kate Lott; his great-grandchildren, Andy, Jonathan, and Waylon, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews from the family he held so dear.
Born in Tiptonville, Tennessee in 1943, he had a childhood he often compared to Andy Griffith's "Mayberry." His childhood friends became lifelong friends, evidenced in part by how much he looked forward to the regular Tiptonville High School Class of '61 reunions. He went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee, where he met his first wife Katherine Roach LeDuke, and continued his pattern of securing lasting friendships. He spent time in Germany while in the Army, then in Philadelphia beginning his restaurant career, before settling down in Atlanta in 1972, first as a manager at Stouffer's Top of the Mart, then at Herren's Restaurant, and eventually owning a business fixing and selling restaurant equipment.
Though always humble, he was truly a man of many talents and constant hobbies; he could hold his own in a poker game, knew his way around a fishing hole, was able to reimagine uses of any number of random items (treasures) he would find at local auctions or thrift stores. He built decks and bookcases and porch swings and birdhouses and much of the house he called home for many years. He could make the shortest story long. He was an enthusiastic solver of crossword puzzles and Sudoku. He loved to read and, especially, to write, whether it was his blog about growing up in Tiptonville or his occasional meandering notes jotted off to family or friends. He was especially proud of the two books he wrote with his daughter Amanda about the great love story of his parents, Catherine and "Duke." The number of dollars in his pocket was completely unrelated to his generosity and his big heart whenever he met someone in need. He was many things to many people, and almost everyone you meet would be able to tell you a "Jimmy story" that would make you laugh.
A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tiptonville Public Library or the James Neville and Catherine LeDuke Scholarship Fund at Lake County High School in Tiptonville, Tennessee in his honor.
The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Emory Decatur Hospital and Longleaf Hospice for their compassion and care.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Catherine Frazier Patty LeDuke and James Neville LeDuke, Sr., and by his sister, Cathie LeDuke Locher.
He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Marty LeDuke; his daughters, Jennifer Lott (Dan), Amanda LeDuke (David), and Denise Chapman (John); his son, H.R. Tuttle (Marie); his brother, Richard LeDuke; his "sister" Sue Hurst; his grandchildren, Bethany Singleton, Emily Chapman, Ashlyn McNabb, Alyssa Tuttle, Henry Lott, and Kate Lott; his great-grandchildren, Andy, Jonathan, and Waylon, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews from the family he held so dear.
Born in Tiptonville, Tennessee in 1943, he had a childhood he often compared to Andy Griffith's "Mayberry." His childhood friends became lifelong friends, evidenced in part by how much he looked forward to the regular Tiptonville High School Class of '61 reunions. He went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee, where he met his first wife Katherine Roach LeDuke, and continued his pattern of securing lasting friendships. He spent time in Germany while in the Army, then in Philadelphia beginning his restaurant career, before settling down in Atlanta in 1972, first as a manager at Stouffer's Top of the Mart, then at Herren's Restaurant, and eventually owning a business fixing and selling restaurant equipment.
Though always humble, he was truly a man of many talents and constant hobbies; he could hold his own in a poker game, knew his way around a fishing hole, was able to reimagine uses of any number of random items (treasures) he would find at local auctions or thrift stores. He built decks and bookcases and porch swings and birdhouses and much of the house he called home for many years. He could make the shortest story long. He was an enthusiastic solver of crossword puzzles and Sudoku. He loved to read and, especially, to write, whether it was his blog about growing up in Tiptonville or his occasional meandering notes jotted off to family or friends. He was especially proud of the two books he wrote with his daughter Amanda about the great love story of his parents, Catherine and "Duke." The number of dollars in his pocket was completely unrelated to his generosity and his big heart whenever he met someone in need. He was many things to many people, and almost everyone you meet would be able to tell you a "Jimmy story" that would make you laugh.
A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tiptonville Public Library or the James Neville and Catherine LeDuke Scholarship Fund at Lake County High School in Tiptonville, Tennessee in his honor.
The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Emory Decatur Hospital and Longleaf Hospice for their compassion and care.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Neville LeDuke, Jr., please visit our flower store.
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