James G. Chastain Iii

James G. Chastain III

Ridgeland,MS

James Garvin Chastain III, 91, passed away on October 17, 2014 in Jackson, Mississippi. Visitation is Sunday, October 19 at the Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi from 3-5 p.m. and on Monday, October 20 at Saint Luke's United Methodist Church in Jackson at 10 a.m. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. at Saint Luke's United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Lakewood Memorial Park.

Mr. Chastain was preceded in death by his father James G. Chastain, Jr., mother Mary Helen Myer Chastain Marble, and wife Mary Jocelyn Wiemers Chastain.

Mr. Chastain was born in Leland, Mississippi in 1922 and moved with his parents to Jackson in 1933 when his father was named Superintendent of the Jackson Public Schools. He attended Power Elementary School, Central High School, Columbia Military Academy, and Millsaps College. While at Millsaps, he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. On discharge, he enrolled at Georgia Tech School of Architecture. He returned to Jackson in 1950 where he was employed by an architectural firm. In 1956 he was hired by the Jackson Public Schools as Director of School Construction and in 1958 opened an office for the practice of architecture. In 1972 he was appointed Director of the Mississippi State Building Commission where he served until 1976 when he moved to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to follow construction at the department's six institutions. During his time with the Department of Mental Health, the mental health board asked him to serve a short period as Interim Director of the Department of Mental Health. In 1980 he returned to the State Building Commission as its director until retirement in 1988. He served as President of the Mississippi chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1963. He was a volunteer for Hospice Ministries.

Survivors include his wife Dorothy Lauderdale Chastain and five children, Claire Chastain Schmid (Bill), Jamie Chastain, Jocelyn Chastain Bojack (Mike), James G. "Bo" Chastain (Connie), Judson Wesley Chastain (Becky), eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Saint Luke's United Methodist Church, 621 Duling Avenue, Jackson 39216; Gateway Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 3763, Jackson 39207; or the charity of your choice.