James Aughtry James Edwin Aughtry

Jr, 97, Columbia, formerly of Gaffney, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Jimmy (also known as Cowboy, Bud, Brother) was born at the family home in the Pacific Mill village of Lyman, SC. The second child and only son of James Edwin Aughtry, Sr, and Edith Corean Owens on March 29, 1928, he grew up hunting, fishing, and playing baseball. In 1945, Jimmy graduated from Wellford Lyman Tucapau High School and hoped to join the Marine Corps. His father objected, insisting that as the Second World War was coming to an end, Jimmy would get a college education. He started a winding journey that saw him leaving and returning to Clemson University several times before graduating in January 1952 with a degree in Textile Engineering. A member of the baseball team, he was a standout 2nd baseman and shortstop being named to the All-Conference Baseball Team. In 1950, he was recruited by and tried out for the Detroit Tigers. As Clemson was a military school during those years, Jimmy was a member of the ROTC cadre. Always a man that honored his commitments, he decided that he needed to fulfill his military obligations before pursuing those professional baseball dreams.

Following graduation but before leaving for Army Basic Training at Fort Knox, another chance meeting would change his life. Jimmy was set up by his friend Gene on a blind date with the best friend and roommate of Gene's girlfriend, Sara Jean. Jimmy went to at a basketball game in the community center of Lyman to meet Margie Farmer. According to Jimmy, he checked her out through the doors before entering, thought she looked pretty good and decided to "give it a shot." According to Margie, she noticed his AUGHTRY ears when he walked through the doors and wondered why she had agreed. That date must have gone well as there was a second date and then many more to follow.

In 1953, Jimmy was put on active Army duty and sent to Korea as a platoon Leader of Tank Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry division, United States Army. On the morning of 20 July 1953, 1LT Aughtry was in command of a task force of tanks which went into enemy held territory with the mission of destroying enemy fortifications. During this mission, his tank was disabled, he dismounted from the tank, located other mines, dug the mines out and cleared a path for another tank to replace his disabled vehicle and get his tank back to relative safety all under active enemy fire. For his bravery, Jimmy was awarded the Silver Star, the second highest award for bravery. He would complete his Army reserve military service after being promoted to Captain in 1958. His Army awards include the Silver Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal with 2 bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

On March 12, 1954, Jimmy made another brave step by marrying Margie at Concord United Methodist Church in Greer. He began his lifelong career in textiles at Pacific Mills in Lyman before transferring to M Lowenstein in Gaffney in 1956. In 1979, he was fired from M Lowenstein for being over the age of 50 and being unwilling to lie for unethical leadership. After several different jobs, Jimmy was hired by Hamrick Mills where he worked for over 20 years, working first as a 3rd shift and later 2nd shift supervisor. This schedule allowed him to golf at Cherokee National Country Club almost every day where he still won the Senior Club championship at the age of 74. He continued golfing until the age of 91 when in his final round, he birdied two par five holes and eagled the par five 18th. After retirement, he enjoyed driving cars for Burns Chevrolet where he would rail against the use of GPS instead of good old maps. He loved to tell stories of him and the other drivers caravaning around the country transporting vehicles.

Jimmy and Margie spent the better part of the next 64 years working and raising a family in Gaffney. Their children were expected to do everything to the best of their ability; perfection was not as important as effort. Avid Clemson fans, the fact that 2 out of 3 children saw the light and went to the University of South Carolina, was never a problem. They gladly wrote those checks for tuition and would even wear Garnet or Black clothing at appropriate times. They were both active members of the community and attended Buford Street United Methodist Church. The Sprouse Sunday School class was an important part of their life at Buford Street for their 60 years in the church.

In 2020, Margie's descent into Alzheimer's escalated and her need for specialized care became more obvious. Jimmy agreed to the difficult decision to leave Gaffney to better take care of her. They moved to Columbia into a facility with Independent Living and Memory Care to be near their daughter who spent the last 5 1/2 years helping to take care of their daily needs. When Margie transitioned into Memory Care, Jimmy visited every day bringing her snacks and sitting with her. He took care of her in every way that he physically could all the way to the end.

Jimmy is survived by his three children, Ann Aughtry Holland (Chuck), James Edwin "Bubba" Aughtry (Holly), and Robert Edward Aughtry (Andrew Jenkins), five grandchildren, Ansley Aughtry Smith, William Lloyd Smith III (Rebecca), Addison Neil Aughtry, Abigail Holland Payne (Fiona), Grace Holland, 6 nieces and nephews and 10 great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Rena; two siblings Margaret Wilson Aughtry and Ida Elmyra Aughtry Jenkins, his in-laws Harry Jenkins, Geraldine Farmer Jones, Billy Jean Farmer Grant, and Theron Clyde Farmer, Jr and three nephews, Kenneth Grant, John Grant and Ronald Grant.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Buford Street Methodist Church in Gaffney on Saturday, March 7. Visitation will be from 9:00- 9:45am; Service will begin at 10:00am. The wearing of Orange and Purple is encouraged for those of the Clemson persuasion.

An Interment Service for Jimmy and Margie will follow at 12:30pm at Wood Memorial Park in Greer, SC.

Honorary pallbearers will be the surviving Nieces and Nephews: Jane Jenkins Wells, Jimmy Jenkins, Terry Grant, Pamela Grant, Derek Farmer, Christopher Farmer, and the members of the Sprouse Sunday School Class of Buford Street Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Organ Fund of Buford Street Methodist Church will be greatly appreciated.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.