James Gardner Cecil Jr.

1938 - 2019

James Gardner Cecil Jr.

Decatur, AL - Cecil, James Gardner Jr. (Jimmy) - Decatur, AL - passed away peacefully on January 17, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jane Adelaide Houston Cecil and James Gardner Cecil. He is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce Stone Clemons Cecil; children Dana Cecil Lasch Farris (Phillip), Greg Cecil, Kathy Clemons Blevins (Donald), Richard Clemons (Amanda), and Nathanael Clemons; grandchildren, Kyle Lasch, Will Farris, Leah, Maggie, Gabrielle, and Kaylyn; great grandson, Elijah. He is survived by his sister Mary Virginia Cecil Smith Williams; niece and nephew Laura Jane Smith Moss-Dudley (Dr. Steve Dudley) and George Dibrell Smith, Jr. (Julie); great nieces and nephews MaryLauren Dibrell Moss, Julia McCauley Smith, Virginia "Coco" Dibrell Smith, Kathryn Elizabeth Dudley, Charles "Chad" Albert Moss IV, and Andrew Stephens Dudley; and cherished cousins and friends.

Jimmy was born November 7, 1938 in Nashville and attended Overbrook School, Duncan School, and graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy. He served in the Tennessee Air National Guard and Reserves as a Captain. He was a cargo specialist with his crew transporting supplies to military bases stateside and overseas. He attended Vanderbilt University and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a political science degree. After college, he taught and coached soccer at Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, TN. Jimmy returned to Nashville to work for Third National Bank. Afterwards he was a paralegal, then was hired into management by Holiday Inn in Nashville and after several years was transferred to Decatur, AL. In his later years, he worked for NARCOG delivering meals and loved the people he served. His life of grace and faith in Christ made everyone he was in contact with richer. He will be missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

A service celebrating his life was held on January 19, 2019 at Roselawn Funeral Home in Decatur, AL, followed by burial in Hartselle City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery Bell Academy or South Decatur Church of God.