James Linwood Hatcher Jr.

1935 - 2024

James Linwood Hatcher Jr.

Apr 6, 1935 - Jun 26, 2024

James Linwood "Jimmy" Hatcher Jr., a long-time Middleburg area resident, a lifetime equestrian, and a masterful storyteller died on June 26, in Richmond, VA, at age 89.

Mr. Hatcher had recently returned to his hometown from his residence in Upperville, VA, where he was known to a legion of friends and neighbors simply as "Jimmy" or "Hatcher." He was a regular presence around the village, walking his dog every morning and greeting anyone he ran into, two or four-legged, on the way to the post office or Trinity Church.

Jimmy wrote a popular column called "Carry Me Back," for a Middleburg area magazine, Country ZEST & Style, in which he recounted all manner of colorful stories about his myriad experiences as a long-time fox hunter, talented horse show competitor and judge, a college student, and a real estate agent.

Jimmy was born on April 6, 1935, in Richmond, the son of James Linwood Hatcher and Martha Barrow Hatcher. He grew up in the Ginter Park section of the city, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and Hampden-Sydney College where he was president of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

From a young age, he was always enamored with horses and, at 16, was champion of the first Loudoun Junior Horse Show in Middleburg in 1951, on Candlewick. Several years later, he qualified to ride in the Maclay Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, a prestigious equitation event.

After college, he served in the U.S. Army, then joined his family's Richmond heating oil business, Wingfield Hatcher.

Jimmy moved to the Middleburg area in 1966, and soon was deeply immersed in the town's horsey culture and social life.

He continued to compete in and later judge horse shows and was named to the Virginia Horse Show Association Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Upperville Horse & Colt Show's Wall of Honor in 2007. He was a devoted supporter of the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg.

Aside from his work in real estate he was a talented artist, and in his 60s became a devoted practitioner of yoga and Pilates. He was an avid walker, in recent years usually accompanied by his beloved dog, Ricky. He also loved to dance.

Jimmy was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, where he previously served on the vestry.

He was predeceased by a sister, Anne Hatcher Jennings. He is survived by a nephew, Joseph Ashby Jennings III and his wife Elizabeth, of Richmond; and a niece, Ashby Jennings Hatch and her husband Ian, of Dallas, Texas. He also is survived by five grandnieces, MacNair Jennings Cox, Grace Jennings, MacKenzie Hatch, Anne Gamble Jennings, and Ainsley Hatch.

A celebration of Mr. Hatcher's life is scheduled at 11 a.m., on Monday, July 8, at Trinity Church in Upperville. In his memory, the family suggests any donations be directed to Middleburg Humane Foundation.