James Howard "Jimmy" Langford, 86, of Athens, Georgia passed away Friday, May 9, 2014 at Silverleaf Alzheimer's Hospice after an extended illness.
Jimmy was born April 21, 1928 in Lavonia, Georgia. He attended Lavonia High School and graduated in 1944. Jimmy started his career with Southern Railway in Lavonia, Georgia and retired as an agent with Norfolk Southern after 42 years. He served as Deacon of Lavonia First Baptist Church prior to moving to Athens in May 1963, where he attended Beech Haven Baptist Church. Jimmy served as President of the Lavonia Lions Club and Worshipful Master of the Lavonia Masonic Lodge 241. He loved his family and will be dearly missed.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his mother and father, Gussie Mouchet Lankford and Ralph E. Lankford. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Gloria Ridgway Langford, daughter Beth Langford Nunnally of Watkinsville; daughter and son-in-law Eugenia and Mark Ham of Gainesville; three grandchildren, Howard Nunnally, Jenny (Scott) Givens, and Mark (Lesley) Ham; and four great-grandchildren, Eli Ham, Maddie and James Givens, and Mary Katherine Ham.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2014 at the Lavonia Chapel of Strickland Funeral Home with Rev. John Walker officiating Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour. Flowers are optional or memorials may be made to Silverleaf Hospice or Beech Haven Baptist Church of Athens.