James Jay Hathaway

Thomasville, GA - James Jay Hathaway, 89 of Thomasville passed away at home on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Allen and Allen Funeral Home Chapel. Interment immediately following at Laurel Hill Cemetery on Oklahoma Street.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Allen and Allen Funeral Home Chapel.

Jim Hathaway was born in Atlanta, GA on September 9, 1935, to Blanche Haddock Hathaway and Don Jay Hathaway.

He was raised in Douglas, GA where he graduated from Douglas High School in 1953 where he participated in different sports and school clubs and activities.

He attended Valdosta State College where he played on the first Baseball and Basketball team and was a member of the Filii Fortunae Fraternity and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. He met Betty Louise Eldridge his senior year, and their love story began. They married, started their family while he focused on his career with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. They lived in various states early on and made Thomasville, GA their home from 1965 - 1988. They moved to Clemmons, N.C. in 1988 and Jim Retired from RJ Reynolds in1996 after 36 years. Upon retirement, Jim and Betty moved back to Thomasville and built their dream home.

He was a Charter member of Glen Arven Country Club for many years where he spent hours playing golf and served as Chairperson for the Piney Woods Invitational and the Rose City Golf Tournament.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his late wife of 51 years, Betty Lou, son James Gill Hathaway and late wife of 7 years, Jean Morgan Hathaway.

He is survived by daughters Beth Caldwell (Stan), Lynn Betros (Jeff), Daughter-In-Law, Kay Hathaway O’Meara, (Ron); Stepdaughters Debra Bennett (Jimmy), Tracie Brinson, Paige Morgan and Stepson Scott Morgan (Carrie). He is also survived by his grandchildren: John Herndon (Jessica), Katie Pope (Kevin), Haley Drake, Scott Betros (Kathryn), Taylor Betros (Lindsay) and Austin Betros (Hunter).

Additional survivors are great-grandchildren Taylor, Calvin and Jack Herndon of Milton, GA; Kaylee and Kendyl Pope of Atlanta, GA; Claire and JB Betros of St. Johns, FL, Walker and Bobby Betros of Jacksonville Beach, FL and Bentlee Betros of Green Cove Springs, FL.

Pallbearers will be Austin Betros, Bryan Delaney, John Herndon, Scott Betros, Scott Ferrell, and Taylor Betros. Honorary Pallbearers Jeff Betros, Jerry Studdard, Ken Ferrell, and Stan Caldwell.

The family is eternally grateful for the Abide Home Care Givers that took such great care of him through the years. Most recently, a special thanks to Andrew Wyche, Angela Donaldson, Gestell Gibson and Mavis Walker.