James L. Duncan

James Duncan

It is with deep sadness that the family of James L. "Jim" Duncan announces his passing after a hard fought battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Jim was born on Sept. 25, 1949, in Canton, and moved to Glynn County with his parents in 1951. He grew up on St. Simons and graduated from Glynn Academy in 1967.

Before joining the Navy in 1970, he attended what was then Brunswick Junior College where he actively participated in student government and earned the distinction of being listed in "Who's Who in American Junior Colleges."

In 1972, he received a scholarship to Auburn University. He graduated with honors from Auburn in 1974, receiving a B.S. in mathematics.

Joining the navy in 1970, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant, serving aboard the USS Jonas Ingram as a surface warfare officer. Based out of Mayport, he had tours of duty in the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and the African Coast. Jim had a lifelong love for the Navy, the men he served with and the United States military. Before leaving the service in 1980 he spent the last two years of his military career at Duke University training midshipman in the NROTC unit.

Jim then attended Florida State University where he graduated with honors, receiving a Juris Doctorate degree. He worked locally with the law firm Nightingale, Liles, Dennard and Jordan, with TRW as head of the Real Estate Legal Division, as well as having his own law practices in Brunswick and Gainesville.

After several short-term mission trips to Honduras, Jim felt called to the mission field. He closed his law practice and moved to Roatan, Honduras. While there, he was very involved with ministry at First Baptist Church in Coxen Hole. He worked with Men's Ministries and taught Sunday School there. He also helped at Baptist Children's Home in Gravel Bay, and with Cross Training Sports Camps, the ministry of his friends Clair and Elton Mattox of Gainesville. He also taught in the Christian Church on Roatan. Jim loved the people of Roatan and developed deep friendships with the people there. It was during his time in Honduras Jim met and married his adored wife Cecilia.

Soon after moving back to Brunswick in 2013, Jim began teaching at Brunswick Christian Academy where he taught until he was no longer able to do so. He genuinely cared for his students and their futures, and received great pleasure from seeing them succeed.

Jim was a member of Coastal Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher.

His pastor and church family meant the world to him and he was heartbroken when he could no longer serve. Jim had a true burden for the lost of this world and would share the gospel at every opportunity. He lived a simple life and was a humble servant of God.

Preceded in death by his parents, James M. and Peggy Joyce Duncan, Jim is survived by his wife, Cecilia Duncan; his daughter, Kathy and her husband, Michael Mealling; and Kathy's mother, Marina Duncan. Also surviving are his six sisters, Brenda Murray, Debbie Hall, Joyce Squires, Lisa Barr, Lori Hurt and Linda Colquitt, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at First Freewill Baptist Church, with visitation to follow. Per his request, Jim will be laid to rest on Tuesday beside fellow members of the military at the Jacksonville National Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Tripp Squires, Gene Duncan, Harold Duncan, Kenyon Hall, Olin Squires, Michael Mealling and Bowen Colquitt. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Perry, former co-workers at Brunswick Christian Academy, Chuck Murray, Olin Hall, Steve Paul, his Sunday School class at Coastal Baptist Church and the Glynn Academy Class of 1967. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coastal Baptist Church.

Chapman Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, December 9, 2025