James N. Nash Jr.

James Noel Nash, Jr., aged 72, died on January 11, 2016 at Big Bend Hospice, after an extended illness. Jim, as he was known, was born in Decatur, GA on August 3, 1943 to James Noel Nash and the former Louelle Patten. He attended South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, GA, graduating in 1961. While at SGHS, he nurtured a love for the trombone and was a member of the high school football team. He graduated Middle Georgia College in Cochran, GA with an Associate in Arts Degree in 1963 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia in Athens in 1965. Following his graduation from college, Jim reported for basic training with the Army at Fort Jackson, SC. A heart murmur saw him medically discharged after only three months and nine days but Jim was proud of his military service and always spoke highly of all U.S. military personnel.

He began his career in journalism as a reporter for WAII-TV (now WXIA) in Atlanta, GA and from 1965-1968, he served as a reporter and newscaster with WALB in Albany, GA. It was during his time in Albany that he met and married his first wife, Claire. After the birth of their daughter Sally, Jim & Claire moved to Douglas, GA, where he worked as the Director of Public Information at South Georgia College. In Douglas, he was active in the Lions Club, serving as the District Secretary for the Board of Directors, and was a member of First United Methodist Church.

In 1971, the family moved to Tallahassee, where Jim began work as a reporter/producer for the Florida Radio-TV News Service at the state capitol. Shortly thereafter, Jim became a father again to his son, Noel. Of his son’s birth, Jim often said he was the last man in America not allowed in the delivery room at his child’s birth. Jim and Claire joined and became active members of Trinity United Methodist Church.

In 1972, Jim began a long career as the Director of Public Information, and later Director of Public Relations, at Tallahassee Community College. At TCC, Jim was responsible for keeping the community up-to-date on the accomplishments of the faculty, staff and students there, and was the coordinator of the TCC Artist Series, bringing to Tallahassee the talents of such performers as Della Reese, Cab Calloway, William Windom and the Mantovani Orchestra. His final project prior to his retirement in 2005 was writing the history of Tallahassee Community College, a project in which he took great pride. He also served four years in state-level leadership positions with the Florida Association of Community Colleges, culminating with a term in 1981 as FACC’s president.

Following the death of Claire in 1988, Jim found love again with his Janice, and became stepfather to Susan and John. As Jim was an only child, he was tickled to gain two more children, and it would be an understatement to say how much he cherished his family life. In retirement, Jim and Janice traveled extensively throughout the United States, and have been active members of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, where Jim served as Communications Coordinator, updating the history of Saint Paul’s, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and he headed up a very successful capital campaign for the church. They have been long-time members of the Seekers Sunday School class, and Jim relished delivering lively and engaging lessons for his friends when it was his turn as class leader.

A close second to his love of family was Jim’s love of writing. He spent a year as a Community Columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat and entertained and engaged the community with columns on love and loss, the environment and the importance of informational awareness. He wrote several “My View” columns, advocating against school vouchers and for advanced directives. Jim continued his love of reporting in his Nash Report, Nash Chronicles and Dear Cousins letters, and kept us all informed with his Lafayette View, where his sign off was always, “Life is an adventure. More later.” He wrote a loving tribute of his first wife Claire after her death, stories, letters and poems for his children and grandchildren, lengthy accounts of his life and travels with Janice, and a moving account of being diagnosed and treated for a malignant brain tumor. Jim was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janice; daughter Sally Huggins (and husband Chip), son Noel Nash (and wife Susan), and son John Apthorp (and wife Ashley), all of Tallahassee, and daughter Susan Hemenway (and husband Jim) of Liberty, MO; grandchildren Matthew, Meredith, Claire and Sean Huggins, Carter and Clayton Nash, Beth, Catherine, Sarah and Joseph Hemenway, and Emma Apthorp; sisters-in-law Sybil Law (and husband Jim) of Converse, IN and Sallie Kepner (and husband Jerry) of Summerfield, FL; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends at Culley’s Funeral Home on Riggins Road from 6 to 8pm on Thursday, January 14th, and a celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church on Friday, January 15th at noon with burial after at Culley’s Memorial Park Cemetery. Donations can be made to Saint Paul’s UMC or to the American Cancer Society.