Rev. James Edwin Armstrong
On November 3, 2016, the Reverend James Edwin Armstrong passed into God’s eternal kingdom at the age of 94. Jim was a man of God who loved serving his fellow man in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jim was born in Bradenton, FL Aug. 3, 1922. He attended Georgia Tech before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps in 1942. In the 8th Air Force, Jim served as a B17 bomber pilot during WWII and earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the war Jim attended the University of Florida and in 1948 graduated with a BS degree. In Bradenton, he and his wife Nita were faithful members of First Presbyterian Church until 1961, when Jim answered God’s call to full time ministry. The couple, along with their three children, moved to Decatur, GA where Jim earned his Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. Jim then pastored McCarter Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC, followed by a pastorate at Friendship Presbyterian Church in Thomasville, GA. Ultimately, he founded New Covenant Church in Thomasville where he was privileged to serve until his retirement in 1984. For the past five years, Jim and Nita have resided in Lawrenceville, GA and have enjoyed fellowship at Grace Bible Church.
Jim was the son of Leslie Robert Armstrong and Laura Armstrong Kellett of Bradenton.
He was predeceased by his brother Jack Leslie Armstrong (Gladys) and sister Lou Ellen Haggard (Roy). Jim is survived by his wife of 68 years, Juanita DesChamps Armstrong, daughter Alice Juanita Armstrong (Lawrence), son James Leslie Armstrong (Mary Alice), and daughter Jean Marie Smith (Kenneth). Surviving grandchildren are Sherrie Alice Armstrong, David Lawrence Armstrong, James Matthew Armstrong, Anna Beth Horsley (Adam), Daniel DesChamps Armstrong (Anna), Erin Marie Smith, and Leah Michelle Smith. Jim adored his four great grandchildren Axel, Isaiah, Joseph, and Eli. He also has many beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Allen & Allen Funeral Home, Thomasville, 6:00-8:00 pm Sat., Nov. 5. Celebration of Life service will be at New Covenant Church on Sun., Nov. 6, 2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to ministries close to Jim’s heart: IAM, Inc., PO Box 2122, Moultrie, GA 31776, or Faithful Is He, PO Box 673, Thomasville, GA 31799, or New Covenant Church. Family and friends may sign the online register atwww.allenfh.com.