James William Waid

WAID, JAMES WILLIAM, of Springville, AL, passed away on November 19th, 2012, at the age of 77. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sylvia. He is also survived by his four children – Karen Fine (Eddie), Jay Waid (Samantha), Kelly Golsan (Bubba) and Daniel. He is survived by six grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Grandchildren: Granger Waid, MacGregor Waid, Judd Golsan, Gavin Golsan, Clint Graben and Lanie Pentecost (Michael). The great granddaughter is Madison Newsome. He is survived by his little sister Vicki Stanford (Danny) and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Richard and Vixie Waid; older sisters Frankie Johnson and Mary Alice Jones; and younger brother Richard (Bucky) Waid. He was also preceded in death by grandson Dustin Newsome. Visitation will be on Sunday, Nov. 25th, from 2:00 to 4:00 at Ridout’s Trussville Chapel. There will also be a visitation on Monday, Nov 26th, 2012, from 12:00-2:00 at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church in Springville. The service will begin at 2:00, with burial in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Mr. Waid had many names to which he was referred: James, J.W. Jim and King James. He was even known as J.C. in inner circles. That name came from a friend who had many other friends with initials for names. One day, the friend called him J.C. by mistake, and it stuck. Most knew him as J.W. J.W.’s dad died in his 40s, when J.W. was in his early teens. He became the man of the house, which meant now he had to get a job at age 14 to help support his family. Before school, he worked for a pulpwood company, then would drive the truck to school as an unlicensed driver. He loved that old truck. He married Sylvia when she was only 16, without her parent’s blessing. When her dad threatened to annul the marriage, J.W. told him they’d just run off and get married again. He was stubborn & determined. He got the girl and held on to her for 57 years. J.W. began a career as a State Farm Insurance agent in 1963 and it didn’t end until his death. Most of his time with the company was spent in his Trussville office. He was three months away from his 50th year with the company, and at one time was a “Crystal of Excellence” agent, the highest honor an agent can receive. He sold thousands of policies and made thousands of friends. With J.W., his son Jay, his daughter Karen and special secretary Susan Dodson, there was over 100 years of combined insurance experience. Though his agency got bigger and bigger, he and his staff tried to maintain his down-to-earth principles he established in 1963. Some called his office the “Floyd’s Barber Shop of Trussville.” He believed in hard work, old-fashioned service and family. When Hurricane Ivan came ashore about 10 years ago, it hit the Alabama gulf coast on a Friday night. He chose to roll the answering service phones over to his cell phone, where he received hundreds of calls and was seen throughout the city for many days in the aftermath helping in the clean-up. He could’ve taken the easy way out and let policyholders call claims in to the weekend phone service. This was a microcosm of his life. He always though his role in life was to take care of his family and to save the world and to be a donor to many causes. He also believed in straight talk. There was once a picture of him in his office with a caption that read, “Just tell it like it is.” He was one of the few people on the planet who knew everything, too….There used to be a sign on his wall that said, “Those who think they know it all are very annoying to those of us who do.” With an attitude like that, he certainly wasn’t adored by all. One year, he won the Gatekeeper Award in Trussville. In his acceptance speech, he declared, “Now, I know all of y’all don’t like me, but y’all better start because I’m probably gonna live to be a hundred.” J.W. also served as President of the Zoning & Variance Board in Trussville and was currently on the St. Clair County Water Board. He was recently awarded his pin for being a Mason for 50 years. It was presented by his grandson Clint, who was inspired by J.W. to become Mason. J.W. held a dual membership in Springville and Trussville. J.W. will be remembered for the over 35 years he spent coaching various baseball teams and girls softball teams in Springville, Trussville and Huffman and American Legion Post 171. By his estimate, he won over 1500 games. In 1971, Trussville hosted the Little League State Tourney, and he and the late Whaley Hall gave Trussville its first and only state championship on the field that was later named Whaley “Pop” Hall Field. In 1974, he and the late Bill Latham led the Huffman Dixie Boys 13-14 year olds to the Alabama State Championship, clinching a trip to the Dixie Boys World Series. To say athleticism ran in J.W.’s family is a tremendous understatement. A great defender but not a great scorer, J.W. was a starter on his Springville High School basketball team, but never attended college because of his financial responsibilities at home. Some of his children, grandchildren, nieces and great nieces, nephews and great nephews, however, had high success in high school and college. One grandson, Judd Golsan, played two full seasons in the New York Yankees organization. His son Jay was named high school All-American baseball player in one publication, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and was a four-year starting catcher at South Alabama and Jax State. His other son Dan pitched at Chattahoochee Valley Junior College and Jax State. Daughter Kelly Golsan won the 110-yard low hurdles and finished third in the 100-yard dash in the Jefferson County High School track meet in 1980. Kelly’s husband Bubba played baseball at UAB for the legendary Harry “The Hat” Walker. Grandson Gavin Golsan is currently a true freshman shortstop at Jax State. Nephew Richard Waid played football at Jax State and played in a Division II Championship game. Niece Anna Stanford was a standout softball player at Shelton State Community College. Great nephew Jeremy Jones played football at Miss. State and had an 81-yd TD reception against Auburn in 1996, the eighth longest TD pass play in State history. Great niece Lindsey Deweese is one of only four 1000-point scorers in Spingville High School basketball history and played basketball, softball and ran cross-country at Gadsden State Community College. Great niece Emily Dorsett played college softball. Great nephews Steve and Scott Hunter both played college baseball and are both currently coaching sports in high school. He began a love for Auburn football in 1961 when little brother Bucky earned a scholarship from Auburn’s winningest coach, Ralph “Shug” Jordan. He became a season ticket holder from that time till 2012. He thought Auburn could never win a game unless he was there. He had to show Bucky some tough love at times when Bucky would call him and say he couldn’t take it anymore and was coming home. J.W. always told him quitting wasn’t an option. Bucky died shortly after watching the miracle 28-27 comeback win by Auburn win over Alabama in 2010 that propelled the Tigers to the BCS Championship. The last game J.W. watched was the stunning 29-24 win by Texas A & M over #1 Alabama on Nov. 10. He loved John Deere tractors, auctions and had a thing or two for vintage cars. He was also a generous donor, though. Beside the loyalty to the Auburn football program, he donated to Springville, Trussville and Mountain Brook sports programs. He supported Troy University football. He donated time and money to the UAB Liver Center, the Jimmie Hale Mission, sponsored many golf tourneys, supported Camp Sumatanga and went on perhaps a dozen church-building missions. If donations for about any cause were needed, J.W. Waid was always considered one the “usual suspects” to visit. He received a liver transplant in 2001 at the age of 65, but he still came to work nearly every day, driven by Sylvia the days he was unable. The last day he worked was Nov 7th, one day before he entered the hospital. Recently, he stood up in church and while crying, he managed to say, “I just want to see and talk to Jesus.” November 19, 2012, was J.W. Waid’s last game. He fought the good fight, and of course he won. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Springville Preservation Society, 6903 US Highway 11, Springville, AL 35146. Please note on the check Rock School Restoration.