A skilled hunter, “Jim” was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the US Army. Born in Spartanburg, SC, December 20, 1930, the second of three sons to Floy and Lawrence Oakman, he lived in Long Beach, CA, Chicago, and Atlanta, where he studied engineering at Southern Tech. He worked as a draftsman/engineer in Charlotte, Greenville, and Columbia, SC.
It was in Charlotte that he met and married his dear wife, Barbara, to whom he was faithfully married for 57 years. He also spent 20 years operating a small business and serving as a volunteer at the Berea Fire Department. Jim also served his friends as a deacon at Berea First Baptist Church and Heritage Bible Church in Taylors and in the Berea Lions Club. Before recently returning to Greenville, Bobbie and Jim, lived in N. Augusta, SC, where they were members of Westside Baptist Church.
Jim is survived by his wife, Barbara Floyd Oakman, their son, Dr. James H. Oakman, Jr., a daughter in-law, Judy, and a grandson, J. Robert Oakman, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday evening from 6-8pm at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Dr. The funeral service will be at Mackey at 1pm Thursday, June 7, followed by an interment at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that honoraria be made to the building fund at Westside Baptist Church, 261 Flowing Wells Road, Martinez, GA 30907.
Arrangements by Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Dr., on line tributes at mackeymortuary.com
