James Boyd Christopher, Sr.

James Boyd (J.B.) Christopher, Sr, age 83, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, May 31, 2024 after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Oconee Church of God in Oconee, GA. Visitation will be prior to the funeral from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the church. Words of remembrance and celebration will be shared by various family members. Burial will be at Bay Springs Cemetery in Tennille, GA. Pastor Gary Yonce will officiate. Pallbearers will be Travis Christopher, Landon Christopher, Blake Hall, Clint Hall, Riley Hunt, Alan Conger, Larry Cooper, Christopher Godfrey and Joel Cochran. Honorary pallbearers will be Emmitt Hall and Harold Channell.

Mr. Christopher was born in Morgan County, GA to the late Homer Lamar Christopher and Katie Rachel Aaron Christopher. His family moved several times before finally settling in Washington County, GA. J.B. had several jobs as a teenager, some of them being working for Lockhart's Drugstore, Channell’s Service Station and the Cotton Mill, all of Tennille, GA. The National Guard accepted J.B. in 1958 and he served a five year term. J.B. met his wife of 65 years at Tennille High School, where he graduated in 1959, and shortly thereafter began his 49 year career with various leadership positions at Engelhard Corporation. Faithfully serving as Fire Chief of Oconee Volunteer Fire Department and holding a longtime seat on the City Counsel of Oconee, J.B. loved his community and the people in it. His love for his Lord and his faith in God took a front seat in his life. He was a long-time member of Oconee Church of God, where he served as guitar player and singer. In retirement, J.B. and Mildred enjoyed traveling to Unicoi Springs Camp Resort in Helen, GA, where J.B. would lead the praise singing on the clubhouse porch. Because of declining health, J.B. and Mildred moved to be with family in Savannah, GA in 2019. He is preceded in death by an infant daughter; sisters, Martha Collins, Sally Warren and Shirley Whitaker and brother, Lester Christopher.

Survivors include: wife, Cora Mildred Cooper Christopher; son, James Boyd Christopher, Jr and his wife Karen Brantley Christopher of Savannah; grandchildren, Gail Christopher Hall and her husband Clinton Hall of Savannah, Travis Christopher and his wife Ashley Garletts Christopher of Savannah; great grandchildren, Rachel Makayla Hall and her fiancé Riley Hunt, Clinton Blake Hall, Amelia Joy Christopher and Landon Bryce Christopher all of Savannah. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Oconee Church of God.

Donations may be made to the Oconee Church of God, P.O. Box 37, Oconee, GA. 31067.

Leave an online condolence at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.