James Arthur Coley, 89, of Fayetteville, Georgia, beloved husband of Daphne Ann Veal Coley for over 63 years and loving father of three children passed away on Saturday, June 20th, 2020 at Belmont Village Senior Living Community in Cardiff by the Sea, California.
James was born March 3rd, 1931 in Ocilla, Georgia to the late Arthur and Maggie Lee Griffin Coley. He graduated from Ocilla High School in 1949 where he was the star quarterback of the football team from 1947-1949. After high school, James joined the United States Air Force and served his country honorably during the Korean War. Then, with his expert knowledge of airplanes, James was employed by Delta Airlines, serving in the engineering technical publications department for more than 38 years. He and the love of his life, Daphne Ann Veal Coley, married in 1957 and moved to Fayetteville, Georgia in 1965 where they raised their three children and were active members of the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. James was an avid golfer with a handicap that matched many professionals and a founding member of Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City. Even more, James was a patriot with an undying love for his country who proudly instilled our country’s rich history and the importance of its founding principles in his children.
James is survived by his wife of 63 years: Daphne Ann Veal Coley; his children: Tamara A. Coley Seymour of San Diego, California, Caia Coley (Michael Feifer) previously of Los Angeles, California, and J. Arthur Coley (Pamela Coley) of Stockbridge, Georgia; grandchildren: Coley Feifer of Los Angeles, California, Kayla Sharpe of Stockbridge, Jacob (Anna) Schwab of Stockbridge; and great-grandchildren: Maddy Smith-Moultrie, Trevor and Dillan Schwab.He is also survived by two brothers, Edsel (Sue) Coley of Ocilla, GA and Jerry Coley of Tifton, GA. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Robert, and two sisters, Louetta Coley Gordon and Mary Ellen Coley Pittman Rae.
Family and friends are invited for visitation at Mowell Funeral Home in Fayetteville, GA on Tuesday, June 30th from 5pm - 7pm; for visitation at Paulk Funeral Home in Ocilla, GA on Wednesday July 1st from 7pm - 9pm and for the Graveside service to be held at Holt Baptist Church, 129 Holt Road, Wray, GA 31798 on Thursday, July 2nd at 9am.