James Carroll Rutherford, 83, of Tifton peacefully went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at his son’s residence in Jesup. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2026, at Tift Avenue Church of God with the Rev. Joseph L. Crumley, the Rev. Calvin Anderson and the Rev. Kevin Dawson officiating. Mr. Rutherford will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Cody Rutherford, Hagen Harter, Trent Rutherford, Brysen Rutherford, Monty Copeland and Brad Gill will serve as pallbearers.
Mr. Rutherford was born February 13, 1943, in Berrien County to Clarence Rutherford and Emma Lou Lindsey Rutherford, both deceased. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Ann Gill Rutherford, who passed away in 2024; one brother, Tommy Rutherford; and one sister, Mary Boyd.
James was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam war and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and several other medals. He retired from the Tifton Post Office and, after retiring, he was in the rental business. He was a faithful member of Tift Avenue Church of God until his health started failing.
Mr. Rutherford is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jamie Kyle and JoAnn Rutherford of Tifton and Keith and Angie Rutherford of Jesup; his grandchildren and their spouses, Kylee (Cameron) Boyd, Cody Rutherford, Hagen (Amber) Harter, Trent Rutherford and Brysen Rutherford; his great-grandchildren, Beckett Oliver Boyd, William “Liam” James Harter, Amelia “Millie” Grace Harter and Eliana Boyd; his four bonus grandchildren, Kelsey (Dillon) Brown, Kalen (Rebecca) Horne, Macy Eason and Skye (Will) Gibson; his two bonus great-grandchildren, Jace Brown and Laura Brown; one sister, JoElla Blue of Mulberry, Florida; one sister-in-law, Evelyn Rutherford of Mulberry, Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial gifts may be made to the Church of God Smokey Mountains Children's Home at www.smch.org.