James Earl Cleveland

James Earl Cleveland, 83, of Brunswick, Georgia, entered into eternal rest Friday, July 17, at Hospice of the Golden Isles. A celebration of life service will be held in his honor at the chapel of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home on Monday, July 20, 2015, at 1:00 PM. Reverend Rob Grotheer and Reverend Matt Stout will officiate the service.

Mr. Cleveland is formerly of Rocky Face, Georgia, but had resided in Brunswick, Georgia, for the past several years. He was born on November 1, 1931, on a farm near Horton, Alabama. His parents were Fred Edward Wesley Cleveland and Lila G. Ivey Cleveland. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy during the Korean conflict, serving four years primarily on the aircraft carrier Bonne Homme Richard. Upon leaving the Navy, he enrolled at Snead Junior College for two years, and then earned a B.S. degree in education from Jacksonville State in Alabama. He later received his master’s degree from the University of Chattanooga. He was a teacher and coach, and for 29 years, he served as a school administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Dade County and Whitfield County, Georgia. He retired from education in 1988 and relocated to Brunswick in 1996.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Herbert Lloyd Cleveland and Jimmy Reuben Cleveland; and two sisters, Lorraine Bohannon and Meredith Odom.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Julia Williams Cleveland; a daughter, Leslie (Duane) Scarboro of Brunswick, GA; a son, Paul (Heather) Cleveland of Tampa, FL; his very special grandchildren, Foster James Cleveland and Bree Cleveland of Tampa, FL; Grace Horton and Lila Horton of Brunswick, GA; and one step-grandson, Walker Scarboro of Brunswick, GA.

Also surviving are brothers Guy Edward Cleveland of Horton, AL; Charles Ray Cleveland of Horton, AL; sisters Helen Joan Croft of Gainesville, FL; and Rebecca Van Sandt of Sherman, TX; and several nieces and nephews.

He was a member of College Place United Methodist Church of Brunswick and Masonic Lodge #112 of Jesup, Georgia.

A special thank you is extended to the Southeast Georgia Health System at both the hospital and the Senior Care Center. He was cared for by very professional and attentive staffs. Our gratitude is extended as well to Dr. Shaner and the staff of Hospice of the Golden Isles.

A reception for family and friends will be held at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home immediately following the service. A private interment will be held at Chapel Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in James Cleveland’s name to College Place United Methodist Church’s Abiding Memorial Fund or Hospice of the Golden Isles.