James Louis Chambless

James Louis Chambless -ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA - James Louis Chambless, 65, of St. Simons Island, Georgia, died Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at Southeast Georgia Health Systems, Brunswick Campus. Born to John Robert Chambless and Frances Haines Chambless in Columbus, GA, James graduated from Jordan High School then from the University of Georgia where he earned a B.B.A. in Marketing and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army where he served as First Lieutenant and Company Commander for two years. After his Honorable discharge, James again went to the University of Georgia where he graduated from Georgia Banking School in 1969 then to Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, graduating in 1977. -He served as Vice President, Commercial Lending at Columbus Bank and Trust (Synovus) from 1966 to 1983. While in Columbus, he served as President and Director of the Metro Boys Clubs of Columbus. James moved to Brunswick in 1983 and served as Senior Vice President at the Coastal Bank of Georgia (Synovus) until 1991. He then served as Senior Vice President at Bank South in Savannah and Macon from 1991 to 1996 then on to The First Bank of Brunswick where he worked until 1999 also as Senior Vice President. Since September, 1999, he has served as Senior Vice President at Sapelo National Bank in Brunswick. -James was very active in our community serving as Past Director of the Brunswick - The Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way of Coastal Georgia. He also was Adv. Director of the Brunswick YWCA, Chairman of the CADDA Loan Committee, Chairman of the Downtown Brunswick Revitalization Loan Committee, and Director of the CADDA and Rural Development Commission. He was also past director of the St. Simons Rotary Club, past officer and director of the Golden Isles Art and Humanities, was a member of the Coastal Landmark Preservation Society, and the Gridiron. James was an active member of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the St. Simons Presbyterian Church and a former deacon. In his spare time he enjoyed sailing, all sports and traveling, and was an avid supporter of UGA athletics. -He is survived by his wife, Martha Carpenter Chambless, St. Simons Island. His former wife and mother of his two sons, Sue Wade Chambless, St. Simons Island; Sons, J. Steven (Danielle) Chambless, Brunswick, and John Wade Chambless, Palm Coast, FL; Grandchildren, Hayden, Suzanne, and James "Jace" Steven Chambless, Jr.; a brother, Robert Eugene (Dot) Chambless; and several nieces and nephews. -Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6:00 until 9:00 P.M. at the funeral home. -Funeral services will be Friday, October 20, 2006 at 3P.M. in the Chapel of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home with Dr. John Law officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Louis Brett Chambless, John Bruce Chambless, Robert Keith Chambless, Mark Packard, Bruce Dixon, and Charles Harbour. -Burial will be in Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, Saturday at 3P.M. -In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the United Way of Coastal Georgia, 1311 Union Street, Brunswick, GA 31520. -Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home of Brunswick, Georgia is in charge of arrangements (912) 265-3636. James Chambless