James C. Gaff, 91, of Ocilla died Thursday, June 21, 2012 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Sunday, June 24, 2012 at Frank Primitive Baptist Church in Irwin County with Elder Edward McIntyre officiating. Interment will follow at Brushy Creek Cemetery with Military Honors. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Saturday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Gaff was born March 26, 1921 in Ben Hill County, Georgia to the late Larkin and Katie Lee Stokes Gaff. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command – Fox Peter One, 31st Fighter Escort Wing, who were the Jet Pioneers of the Pacific. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit citation European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with Two Bronze Stars, Arrowhead Award, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal and was eligible for the Purple Heart award but never pursued it. He retired in 1960 as a Master Sergeant where he served in the United States Air Force for more than 20 years and had been stationed all over the world. Before moving to back to Ocilla, he had lived in Homestead, Florida where he was a tomato farmer. Mr. Gaff was an avid golfer and loved to fish. He was an expert on boats and golf carts. Mr. Gaff was a member of Frank Primitive Baptist Church. He maintained the yards at the church for many years. He was Life Member of American Legion Post 100 in Ocilla, Georgia.
Mr. Gaff is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law; Dr James E and Sharen Gaff of Jacksonville, Florida, Michael E Gaff of Cordele, Georgia, and G. Wayne and Wendy Gaff of Jacksonville, Florida, Eight Grandchildren and Thirteen Great Grandchildren. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Ethel Grace Gaff, four brothers and four sisters.