Name | James Merriotte EAVES [2, 3, 4, 5] | |
Born | 6 Jan 1919 | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
Gender | Male | |
HIST | at death- he had 4 grandchildren- Brooke Eaves, Sarah Smith and husband, Jonathan, Chris Eaves and Brett Eaves; and 1 great-grandchild- Carter Banks Smith- who are their parents? jkh James M. Eaves: 1919-2010 Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 11:18 pm, Tue Aug 17, 2010. Corey Davis cdavis@theitem.com Though James M. Eaves wasn't a native of Sumter, he still made a lasting impact in the area. Eaves, who was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., died Saturday at age 91 at a local nursing facility. Eaves, known as "Jim," was involved in different things throughout his lifetime, including serving 20 years as the general manager of the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce. The chamber received numerous awards and commendations during his tenure. Phil Ballinger, 87, was chief executive officer of the Sumter Development Board and chamber for 20 years. Eaves worked under Ballinger at the chamber. "Jim and I worked together for many years at the chamber of commerce," Ballinger said. "I can accurately say no one loved Sumter and the chamber with the deeper devotion and love than Jim. He was also devoted to the community, and my friend will certainly be missed." Chamber President Grier Blackwelder took over as general manager in 1984, when Eaves retired. Blackwelder said Eaves helped him make a smooth transition into his new position. "I got to know Jim quite well when I moved here from North Carolina, and I was hired to replace him when he retired," Blackwelder said. "He was very instrumental in helping me get situated at the chamber, learning about the chamber and adjusting to Sumter. He taught me about the business community. The biggest thing he instilled in me is that we were here to serve the business community, and that we had great support from the business community. Jim was exactly right about that philosophy. Jim was great for the chamber and the business community." Eaves also served from 1960 to 1984 as secretary of the Sumter Merchants Association, which Blackwelder said was an affiliate of the chamber. The association had a board of directors and retail merchants who came together to plan events pertaining to retail commercial. "Jim loved being involved in the merchants association, and that was back in the days when we didn't have big box stores," Blackwelder said. "He helped retailers get involved in planning downtown events and doing sales pertaining to holidays." Rick Hines, 68, owner of Hines Furniture, served a year as president of the merchants association and as the chamber's vice president of community development. Hines said he worked with Eaves in some capacity for 25 years. "Jim was one of the finest individuals that I got the pleasure to know," Hines said. "Jim got me involved in the merchants association and the chamber. Jim ran the day-to-day operations of both the merchants association and the chamber. He was an asset to both because of his organization and consummate attention to detail. The chamber made great strives while he was there. To deal with Jim was dealing with a consummate professional in every regard." Eaves served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1959 and spent his final 10 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Blackwelder explained that another accomplishment of Eaves was establishing a connection with Shaw Air Force Base. "He was instrumental in helping build relationships with Shaw," Blackwelder said. "Jim had been in the military, and he felt a need to get enlisted personnel involved in the community, especially the business community. He helped start the Shaw/Sumter Public Relations Council in the 1960s, which addressed issues pertinent to continuous improvement of relations between the Shaw/Sumter community." Hines added: "He had a patriotic spirit, and his military background carried over to his obligations in his civilian life. It is just not enough words to describe what he has done for the community of Sumter." Blackwelder said Eaves loved being around people. "He had a great sense of humor, and Jim had a lot of friends," Blackwelder said. "He could talk to people at all levels and segments of the community," Blackwelder said. "He was very well-known and well-respected." Eaves was a special staff assistant for the following projects in his career: 1962 civic bond issue, procurement and establishment of the new South Sumter Industrial Park, Initial Contact Committee for the Procurement of Campbell Soup Co. and Exide Battery, Initial Planning Committees for the Establishment of the United States Post Office building on North Main Street, the Downtown Sumter Improvement Association and the Sumter County Historical Foundation, which restored the old bank building on Main Street. Posted in News, Local news on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 JAMES M. EAVES James Merriotte Eaves, 91, husband of Eunice Rogers Floyd Eaves, died Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, at a local nursing facility. Born Jan. 6, 1919, in Chattanooga, Tenn., he was a son of the late Charles Burgin Eaves and Leila Davis Eaves. He attended the University of North Carolina; the University of Maryland; graduate of the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School; the U.S. Naval School of Nursing and Pharmacy; and the U.S. Naval School of Journalism. He was also a graduate of the Institute for Organizational Management and Advanced Management Studies, University of Georgia, and received a certificate of completion in accounting and business administration from Clevenger College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 until 1959 and spent his final 10 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He served as a physician's assistant qualified for duty independent of a medical officer and also as a member of the U.S. Naval team that set up new hospitals during World War II. He served as senior medical department representative on several vessels and units of the U.S. Marine Corps. He served both in the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II and in Korea during the Korean War. He was highly commended for his service in the Navy, receiving five Bronze Stars, Commanding Officer's Commendations and three Battle Stars. He was a life member of the Sumter Marine League and was also a plank owner of the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was a member of Wise Drive Baptist Church and the Sumter Kiwanis Club. He served as manager of the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Sumter Merchants Association from 1960 until 1984. Mr. Eaves was a life member of the Sumter County Historical Society and served as its secretary for more than 25 years. He also served as chairman and later ex-officio member and custodian for the Sumter County Historical Commission. He was a former member of the advisory board of the Salvation Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 15 and former secretary of the Legion Home Committee. He was a member of the founding board of the Sumter County Museum and an active participant in the founding of the Sumter Gallery of Art in the Elizabeth White House. He was a recipient of several awards from the City of Sumter for his work on bond referendums, beautification, the Iris Festival and Crime Stoppers. He was active in the Eastern Star and White Shrine and was a 32nd degree Mason as a member of the Carolina Consistory out of Charlotte, N.C., for more than 25 years. He was appointed a member of the Old Exchange Building in Charleston, S.C. Commission by the Legislative Assembly. He served on the Sumter Area Technical College and Clemson College planning committees. Mr. Eaves took a great interest in genealogy over the past 50 years and was a member of the Sumter Genealogical Society and several national genealogical groups. He had received many credits from authors of family histories on the national level. Mr. Eaves was twice married, first to the late Johnnie Mae Floyd Eaves. Surviving are his wife, Eunice Rogers Eaves of Sumter; three sons, John Eaves and wife, Josephine, of Sumter, Jimmy Eaves and wife, Gaye, of Sumter and Ronnie Eaves and wife, Tammy, of Myrtle Beach; a sister, Faith Beck Choate of Florence; four grandchildren, Brooke Eaves, Sarah Smith and husband, Jonathan, Chris Eaves and Brett Eaves; and one great-grandchild, Carter Banks Smith. He was predeceased by three sisters and four brothers. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today in the Chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Dearld B. Sterling officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park with military honors. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home of his son, Jimmy Eaves, 1110 Antlers Court. Memorials may be made to Wise Drive Baptist Church, 2751 S. Wise Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386. [3, 4] | |
MILI | He served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 until 1959 and spent his final 10 years in the U. S. Naval Reserve. He served as a physician's assistant qualified for duty independent of a medical officer and also as a member of the U.S. Naval team that set up new hospitals during World War II. He served as senior medical department representative on several vessels and units of the U.S. Marine Corps. He served both in the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II and in Korea during the Korean War. He was highly commended for his service in the Navy, receiving five Bronze Stars, Commanding Officer's Commendations and three Battle Stars. [3] | |
_UID | 2E19FA53F9C047F981AAC70DC61EFBE24D90 | |
Died | 14 Aug 2010 | at a local nursing facility, Sumter, South Carolina |
Buried | 17 Aug 2010 | Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina [3] |
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Person ID | I176641 | Singleton and other families |
Last Modified | 19 Feb 2020 |
Father | Charles Burgin EAVES, d. Bef 14 Aug 2010 | |
Mother | Leila DAVIS, d. Bef 14 Aug 2010 | |
_UID | 6FBF7F93825B44178E9BAFC418E2301A581D | |
Family ID | F173994 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family 1 | Johnnie Mae FLOYD, d. Bef 4 Mar 2006 | |||||||
_UID | B1EEB9B7F80C4D67B50CD278E24EB7934CE3 | |||||||
Children |
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Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |||||||
Family ID | F120141 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family 2 | Eunice FLOYD, b. 1 Feb 1920, Florence, Florence County, South Carolina , d. 12 Jun 2012 (Age 92 years) | |
_UID | FAF3610BD7624D8F874821FA2EE83C41EB0E | |
Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |
Family ID | F120139 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Sources |