Rev. Dr. James W. Sosebee

Rev. Dr. James Wilson Sosebee, 92 of Atlanta died August 28, 2011. An Atlanta native and graduate of Russell High School in East Point, Georgia, and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. His first pastorate was in Brookport, Illinois where he served for 2 years, then enlisted in the Army during WWII and served 5 years of active duty and an additional 28 years in the active reserves and retired in 1979 as a Colonel with 33 years of military service. After his active duty service in the military, Dr. Sosebee returned to Columbia, South Carolina and was pastor of The First Christian Church. In 1953, Dr. and Mrs. Sosebee returned to Atlanta where he became pastor of The First Christian Church of Atlanta and was instrumental in moving the church from its Downtown Atlanta location to Briarcliff Road where it was located across the street from the Coca Cola Candler Estate. The First Christian Church later moved to Tucker, Georgia where it is still located today. After 13 years of serving The First Christian Church of Atlanta, he became pastor of The Central Christian Church in Waco, Texas and served until 1968 when he returned to Atlanta to become the minister of The Brookhaven Christian Church. In 1970, Dr. Sosebee retired from full-time ministry and became the Executive Director of The Atlanta Union Mission for the homeless in downtown Atlanta where he served as Director for 16 years. Dr. Sosebee helped the Mission grow to a 500 bed facility for homeless men, a safe shelter for homeless and alcoholic women with 200 beds, and a working farm for male alcoholics with150 beds located in Jefferson, Georgia and thrift stores to receive and sell material donations to raise money and provide jobs for the homeless. Dr. Sosebee proudly served the Disciples of Christ’s National Church in St. Louis, Mo. He served on the Board of Directors for 12 years and was the Board’s president for 2 of those years. One of his dreams came true in 1964 when he helped build and establish Campbell-Stone Apartments for senior citizens in Buckhead as one of Atlanta’s first state-of-the-arts senior citizen complexes. During his many years of ministry, he performed over 400 weddings, 500 funerals, ordained several young ministers, and spiritually counseled hundreds and hundreds of people in need. He also became an honored friend to the funeral directors of H.M. Patterson & Son where he conducted many services through the years. Dr. Sosebee was also a proud 50 year member of the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth where he played golf with his many good friends -- his favorite past time hobby. Preceded in death by his 2 sisters and 1 brother and his beloved wife of 61 years, Mildred “Bonnie” Crook Sosebee, survivors include his daughter, Marcia Butler, son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Lindsey Sosebee, grandchildren and their spouses, Traci and Mike Lavernway, Lisa and Shannon Cowan, Houston “Sonny” Butler, Jessica and Kevin Bale, Haley Sosebee and Richard and Bradley Sosebee, 6 great-grandchildren and 2 brothers, Arbelia Sosebee and Danny Ray Sosebee. A memorial service will be held Friday, September 2nd at 11 o’clock at The First Christian Church of Atlanta with a reception to follow after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 Lavista Road, Tucker, Georgia, 30084.