1935
James
2015
James Hartley Coleman Jr.
February 24, 1935 — March 1, 2015
James Hartley Coleman, Jr., 80, of Clinton, SC, died Sunday, March 1, 2015.
Jim was born in Honea Path, SC, on February 24, 1935, and was the son of James H. Coleman, Sr. and Helen Milford Coleman.
Jim attended Honea Path High School and served as the Student Body President. He was an avid athlete earning 16 letters in four sports. In High School he played football in the Shrine Bowl, the All State and the All South games. Jim was also a graduate of Clemson University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Textile Manufacturing. As a scholarship football player, this lifelong “Tiger” was a member of the 1957 Orange Bowl team and also played baseball. He was a charter member of the Tiger Letter-Winners Board at Clemson and served as past President.
Upon graduation from Clemson, Jim worked with Milliken Company in Abbeville and then entered the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant for two years. After the Air Force, he was employed by Mayfair Mills in Spartanburg in 1960. He later became Plant Manager at the Mayfair Mills Pickens plant until 1984. While in Pickens, he served as President of the Pickens Area Rotary Club, President of Pickens County Industrial Management Club, was a member of the Pickens County Planning and Development Board, the Pickens Country Club Board, the Habitat for Humanity Board and served as a Deacon and Elder of Pickens Presbyterian Church. Jim was employed in 1984 by Clinton Mills as the Assistant Vice President of Manufacturing. He later became Vice President of Manufacturing for the Clinton Division of Clinton Mills (CMI) Industries and ultimately retired in 1999. While in Clinton, Jim served as a Deacon and Elder of Clinton Presbyterian Church. He also served as a YMCA Board Member, an Officer in the Southern Textile Manufacturing Association, the President of the Senior Options Board, a charter member of Friends of Clinton and a member of the Clinton Economic Development Board. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, United Ministries, and was a AARP Free Tax Consultant.
Jim is survived by his wife, Ruth Tiller Coleman, his daughters Debi Coleman Garrett and Lori Coleman Smith, his step-sons Bill Tiller and John Tiller, his siblings Bob Coleman and Mary Helen Bode and 8 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Dawna Lolmaugh Coleman.
Jim was a recent resident of National Health Care (NHC) of Clinton, SC. The family wishes to thank the staff for their wonderful and compassionate care of Jim and his family members during his stay.
Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, 410 East Carolina Ave., Clinton, SC 29325. Services will be conducted by Dr. Jeri Perkins.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton
Jim was born in Honea Path, SC, on February 24, 1935, and was the son of James H. Coleman, Sr. and Helen Milford Coleman.
Jim attended Honea Path High School and served as the Student Body President. He was an avid athlete earning 16 letters in four sports. In High School he played football in the Shrine Bowl, the All State and the All South games. Jim was also a graduate of Clemson University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Textile Manufacturing. As a scholarship football player, this lifelong “Tiger” was a member of the 1957 Orange Bowl team and also played baseball. He was a charter member of the Tiger Letter-Winners Board at Clemson and served as past President.
Upon graduation from Clemson, Jim worked with Milliken Company in Abbeville and then entered the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant for two years. After the Air Force, he was employed by Mayfair Mills in Spartanburg in 1960. He later became Plant Manager at the Mayfair Mills Pickens plant until 1984. While in Pickens, he served as President of the Pickens Area Rotary Club, President of Pickens County Industrial Management Club, was a member of the Pickens County Planning and Development Board, the Pickens Country Club Board, the Habitat for Humanity Board and served as a Deacon and Elder of Pickens Presbyterian Church. Jim was employed in 1984 by Clinton Mills as the Assistant Vice President of Manufacturing. He later became Vice President of Manufacturing for the Clinton Division of Clinton Mills (CMI) Industries and ultimately retired in 1999. While in Clinton, Jim served as a Deacon and Elder of Clinton Presbyterian Church. He also served as a YMCA Board Member, an Officer in the Southern Textile Manufacturing Association, the President of the Senior Options Board, a charter member of Friends of Clinton and a member of the Clinton Economic Development Board. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, United Ministries, and was a AARP Free Tax Consultant.
Jim is survived by his wife, Ruth Tiller Coleman, his daughters Debi Coleman Garrett and Lori Coleman Smith, his step-sons Bill Tiller and John Tiller, his siblings Bob Coleman and Mary Helen Bode and 8 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Dawna Lolmaugh Coleman.
Jim was a recent resident of National Health Care (NHC) of Clinton, SC. The family wishes to thank the staff for their wonderful and compassionate care of Jim and his family members during his stay.
Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, 410 East Carolina Ave., Clinton, SC 29325. Services will be conducted by Dr. Jeri Perkins.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton
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