James Wayne Southard

James Wayne (JW) Southard, Sr. passed away on July 2, 2015 at the age of 87 following complications from strokes suffered 16 years ago. JW was born January 29, 1928 in Nashville, TN and moved with his parents James Milus and Ruby Anne Tippett Southard to the Atlanta area at the age of 9. He attended Decatur Boys High where he met the love of his life, Bettilu Kirby Croft who was attending Decatur Girls High. JW and Bettilu shared over 60 years of marriage and were an inspiration to their children in the way they cared for and loved each other. An athlete in high school, JW was inducted into the Decatur High School Wall of Honor in 2013. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology graduating in 1950 following 4 years as the quarterback for Georgia Tech under Coach Bobby Dodd from 1946-1949. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Football Hall of Fame in 1994. After a year of coaching in Hogansville, Georgia, JW enlisted in the Army at Fort McClelland in Anniston, AL. In 1953, he went to work with his father, James Milus Southard at James M. Southard and Son. The family business was renamed S. B. S. Associates, Inc. and included his business partner and brother in law Roy M. Brown. The business grew to include his sons Tom, Jim and John as well as his nephew Buddy Brown. He leaves behind a legacy of a thriving family business where his grandson, daughters-in-law and daughter, Suzanne work. He leaves behind wonderful memories of time focused on his family at Lake Hartwell for 28 years; coaching little league and girls softball for 16 straight summers at Medlock Park; close friends on North Superior Ave. and at the Decatur Presbyterian Church including the Crusaders class, Mens softball team and multiple Camp Decatur's. JW was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Bettilu, his sister Jean Southard Brown and his grandson Michael Scott Barksdale, Jr. He leaves behind his sons, Jim (Mindy) Southard, Jr.; Tom (Candy) Southard, Sr.; John (Missy) Southard; daughter Suzanne (Scott) Barksdale; 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. His smiling face and twinkling eyes will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A private graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org) Decatur Presbyterian Church or the Georgia Tech Athletic Department. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory


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