James Leland Meaders

**PLEASE NOTE THE SERVICE WAS RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER.**

James Leland "Moose" Meaders of Mauldin, South Carolina went to Heaven to be with his Lord on January 23, 2026, with his wife, Elizabeth "Liz", by his side. Born on October 23, 1939 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jim lived a full and meaningful life marked by faith, commitment, and unending love for his family and friends.

Jim grew up in Greenville where he lived his entire life. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Mauldin, South Carolina where he formed many friendships and especially loved his Sunday School Class. He graduated from Greenville High School, attended Clemson University for two years, and later studied at several technical schools before beginning a career in mechanical engineering. Early in his life, he was lovingly deemed the nickname "Moose," which followed him always.

Jim had a broad and accomplished work history and built strong connections with people throughout his life. He worked at Saco Lowell, J.E. Sirrine, John D. Hollingsworth, and Alexander Machinery. He was known by his coworkers for his creativity and ingenuity. If there was a problem, Jim would invent a machine to fix it.

Jim's lifelong passion was cars. Straight out of school, he worked part-time at Greenville Pickens Speedway where he scored the races by tracking, recording, and determining the official positions of the drivers at each lap and at the finish line, while also monitoring pit stops and penalties to ensure accurate results. During this time, he met Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, and eventually Dale Earnhardt Jr. which fueled his love for NASCAR for the next sixty years. If a NASCAR race was on, Jim was watching and cheering for the Earnhardt family.

Not only did Jim love racing, but he also had a deep appreciation for classic cars. He owned 52 cars throughout his life and spent many weekends at car shows with his beloved 1939 Buick. His curio cabinet was filled with trophies that reflected his dedication and pride in this hobby.

Jim was a devoted fan of gospel music and had a beautiful bass voice that he shared in the church choir. He loved to play football and golf as a younger man, and rarely missed a televised football game, especially if the Clemson Tigers or the Chicago Bears were playing. A huge Clemson fan, Jim's phone rang to the tune of The Tiger Rag.

In retirement, Jim and Liz enjoyed traveling together, including cruises to Alaska and through the Panama Canal. Jim's favorite trip was to the Holy Land, which he considered one of their most meaningful and memorable adventures together.

Above all, Jim's greatest pride and joy was his family. Just hours before his passing, he said nothing on this earth was more important than family. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lee Meaders and his mother, Blanche Mace Meaders, who live to be 102 years old.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Meaders; his sister, Jan Reynolds (Mike); his children, Bob Meaders (Beth), June Meaders, Celeste Vaughan (David), Cherri Walker (Thomas), and Gina Landosca (John). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jennifer Files (Lee), Miranda Berggrun (James), Trevor Vaughan (Suzanna), Marlee Vaughan, Travis Walker (Kristina), Catie Walker, Brooke Thompson (Dustin), and Candis Yeargin (Michael). He was further blessed with eleven great-grandchildren who loved their Papa and brought immense happiness to his life.

Jim will be remembered for his faith, steady and loving presence, and the deep devotion he poured into his family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 pm. at Mauldin First Baptist Church followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park immediately following the service.

Memorials can be made to Mauldin First Baptist Church, 150 South Main Street, Mauldin, South Carolina, 29662.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of James with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".