James Robert Styles

The Reverend James Robert Styles fought a valiant twelve year battle against Alzheimer's Disease, succumbing peacefully to its complications on August 13, 2015 in his beloved home surrounded by family.
A Celebration of his Life will be held in the Chapel of A. S. Turner and Sons at 11am Tuesday, August 18, 2015 officiated by Dr. Jim Higgins and Reverend Exa Grubb. Internment with full military honors will be at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA at 2pm for those desiring to attend. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home Monday evening from 5pm to 8pm, and Tuesday from 10am until the start of the service.
James was born on October 8, 1927 in upper Dawson County. He is predeceased by his parents, Otis and Cleo Styles, and his brother and sister-in-law, Nathan and Rosemary Styles. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betsy, daughter, Rachel Styles Brown, and son, James Robert (Rob) Styles, Jr., brother and sister-in-law, William A Bill (Jo) Styles, niece, Elizabeth Styles Halatayi, nephew, Ken (Ann) Styles, many cousins, as well as his beloved and faithful companion, Buttons. Honorary pallbearers will be ministers of the United Methodist Church and their spouses.
James graduated from Dawson County High School in 1945. Following his Calling to the ministry at age 17, James served several churches in Western North Carolina while attending Young Harris College where he graduated with his Associate degree in 1947. While working toward his Bachelor's Degree at Jacksonville State University, James served at several churches in the Anniston, AL area. James graduated from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, with his Master of Divinity in 1954.
Following his Ordination as an Elder of the United Methodist Church, James served at several churches in North Georgia including Winterville-Tuckston and Lavonia. During this time, James felt called to the Chaplaincy and was commissioned in the United States Air Force. Over the following 22 years, James faithfully served members of the United States Air Force and their families during assignments to Alaska, Japan, Turkey, and England as well as Virginia, Georgia, Maine, and Texas. Following his retirement from Active Duty in 1976, James completed his studies in Clinical Pastoral Education at Emory University Hospital. James was appointed as the Minister of Visitation at Decatur First United Methodist Church in 1978, where he served in this role until his retirement from the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1993. He was deeply honored when Decatur First United Methodist Church named him Pastor Emeritus. Never one to fully retire, James went on to serve in interim appointments at various churches including Lawrenceville Road, Macedonia, Sardis and Belvedere United Methodist Churches.
Other honors bestowed on James included induction into the Golden Corp of the Heart by the Emory University Alumni Association in recognition of 50 years of ministry and giving, as well as being recognized as the oldest living State officer of the Georgia Future Farmers of America at their 2013 convention.
James' determination to further understanding of - and eventually a cure for - Alzheimer's Disease led him to become an active participant in research of the disease process over the course his twelve year battle, both at Emory University and at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His final contribution to this research followed his death.
The family extends their deepest thanks and appreciation to James' devoted caregivers Linda Mayes, Dionne Mitchell and Kim Romer without whom his final years would not have been as rich and meaningful.
Due to his love and devotion to education, along with his enthusiastic support of the recent expansion to a four year institution of learning, James established The Reverend James Robert Styles, '47, and The Reverend Betsy Pittard Styles Scholarship at Young Harris College. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to this scholarship fund in James' memory. Young Harris College, 1 College Street, Young Harris, GA 30582, or, (800) 241-3754



Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033