James Leonard Gillespie, Sr., 80, of Tifton died Saturday, June 23, 2012, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Frank McDaniel, Jr. will officiate with burial to follow in Tift Memorial Gardens. James L. Gillespie III, Zackary K. Gillespie, Scott Bryant, Stacy Bryant, Jason Webb and Chris Speich will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Monday, June 25, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals
Mr. Gillespie was born on January 16, 1932 in Coffee County and was the son of Lawrence David Gillespie and Leona Brown Gillespie, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one step-daughter, Karen Diane Bryant; and one sister, Latrelle Mullis. He was a part-time clerk at the Dixie Food Store in Tifton and was also a former insurance agent. He served in the United States Air Force and an aircraft mechanic.
Mr. Gillespie is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, James “Jimmy” Leonard Jr. and Dell Gillespie of Tifton and Lawrence “Larry” Keith Gillespie of Tifton; one daughter, Vicki Lynn Royals of Saint Petersburg, Florida; one step-son, Daniel Edward Dorminey of Moultrie; one sister, Nellen Paulk of Brunswick; his sons’ mother, Betty Nell Smith of Tifton; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.