James J. Abercrombie

James Joseph Abercrombie of Newnan died in Atlanta on Jan. 10 after a long illness. His wife of 64 years, Ruth Elizabeth Abercrombie, and son Jon Abercrombie, were at his side when he died Sunday morning. It was a good day to be released from the suffering that affected his life. James Abercrombie, 88, will be remembered for his ability to love people. He met no strangers, never failed to thank people for even small kindnesses, and never turned down a request for help. He volunteered in a homeless shelter, helped build a house for a low-income family and helped the victims of flooding in middle Georgia. He built a large fire-pit and invited every neighbor, every friend and probably a few strangers over for his famous barbecued garlic chicken. James was born to Sanford and Nannie Abercrombie, a farming family in Douglasville, Ga., on Dec. 2, 1921. He learned the hard work of dairy farming, completed high school and went to work. James was the epitome of the “greatest generation.” He had just turned 20 when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. He tried to enlist, but was turned down because of a hernia. He returned to work, saved money for the hernia operation and was finally accepted to the U.S. Navy. In the summer of 1943, he joined the crew of the U.S.S. Fair, a destroyer escort. For the next two years he was at sea, serving as a gunner’s mate. Shortly before leaving Atlanta, James met Betty Ruth Morris at a church meeting in East Point. They saw each other twice. Their entire courtship was by mail. He came home on leave and they married on Aug. 3, 1945. While on their honeymoon, the first atomic bomb was dropped in Japan and he was released from the Navy. For the next 45 years he worked for Amarlite, an aluminum fabrication business in Atlanta. He retired from Amarlite, the only firm he ever worked for, and retired in Newnan. He started as a laborer, worked many years as a supervisor, and ended his career travelling around the country explaining how Amarlite’s products worked. His work took him to Saudi Arabia where the company’s aluminum products were used by the Saudi military. Colleagues recall that if conflict broke out in a meeting, it ended when he came into the room. James could make almost anything with his hands and was an accomplished wood turner. He created aluminum serving trays, turned pens and pencils from exotic wood, built beds, caned chairs, cutting boards, and a pine-box racing track for the youth at his church. Later in life, James suffered the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease, but he continued to garden and found joy in the tireless companionship of his wife. James was preceded in death by sisters Sarah Stephens, Mary Lunsford, Mildred Boutwell, Jessie Abercrombie and his brothers, Paul and Billy Abercrombie. James loved every member of his extended family of nephews, nieces and their children. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Elizabeth, his son Jonathan (Jon) Abercrombie, and daughter-in-law Frances Atkins Abercrombie. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mckoon.com. The visitation and the service to celebrate his life will be Jan. 14 at Grace Community Fellowship Church located at 75 Roscoe Rd. in Newnan. Visitation is at 10:00 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. service and burial at Forest Lawn near the church. Grace Community Fellowship will host the family and friends for refreshments after the burial. Telephone the church at (770) 253-1213. Donations in James Abercrombie’s name can be made to Grace Community Fellowship Church and the Alzheimer’s Association at 1925 Century Blvd, Suite 10, Atlanta, 30345.McKoon Funeral Home 38 Jackson St. Newnan Ga 30263.

James J. Abercrombie

December 2, 1921 - January 10, 2010