James Andrew "Jim" Middleton

James Andrew “Jim” Middleton of Dalton went home to be with the Lord on June 4, 2024. Jim was born on December 22, 1935, in Melrose Park, Illinois to the late Arthur Livingston “Bill” Middleton and Lucy Belle Maddox Middleton. He was preceded in death by his brother William Booth “Bill” Middleton.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Joann Arnold Middleton of Dalton; daughter, Joellen Middleton Ridley (Dennis) of Dalton; son, David Middleton (Gayle) of Lake Royale, NC; and daughter Allyson Middleton Coker (James) of Dalton. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Justin Middleton (Audrey) of Islamabad, Pakistan; Josh Middleton (Carly) of Raleigh, NC; Rachel Ridley Gigante (Joe) of Freeport, FL; Beau Ridley (Bailey) of Panama City Beach, FL; Grace Middleton MacPherson of Augusta GA; Susannah Tighe of Nashville, TN; Grant Middleton (Taylor) of San Antonio TX; JP Tighe (Maddie Klintworth) of Dalton; Reaves Coker (Mary Blythe) of Dunwoody, GA; and Morgan Coker Hicks (Newell) of Nashville, TN. He is also survived by eight great grandchildren: Aleyna, Judah, and Annalise Middleton, Baker, Grayson and Piper Middleton, and Olivia and Blair Coker.

Jim proudly grew up in Tunnel Hill and was a 1953 graduate of Dalton High School where he played football and baseball and met his lifelong sweetheart. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology and later graduated from the University of Chattanooga with a degree in business administration. Jim’s first job was business office manager at Hamilton Medical Center under Norman D. Burkett. He spent most of his working life at Southern Binders Inc., a business that provided carpet sample books, displays and binders that carpet salesmen showed prospective customers. Jim had other endeavors in business related to the carpet industry and ended his working career in insurance and financial planning.

Jim’s greatest reward was found in his career as a civil servant in our local government. He was a passionate, servant leader of the Dalton community first on the civil service commission, followed by several years on the Dalton City Council, and was elected Mayor of Dalton for three consecutive terms from 1988-2000. He helped lead the city with a courageous, common-sense approach with an unwavering commitment to making Dalton a better place for all during a time that brought a great deal of change to the carpet capital.

Jim was an avid golfer and longtime member of the Dalton Golf and Country Club. He and his sweetheart traveled the world with friends and family, he took many golf trips to Scotland and Ireland, and served on many mission trips with his churches over the years. One of Jim’s greatest joys came later in life as he and Joann helped start Rock Bridge Community Church where he faithfully served as an elder, greeter, and small group leader for many years. The two of them felt being a part of the founding members of Rock Bridge in 2002 was the greatest part of their spiritual journey together.

Jim lived out his faith in Christ as His Lord and Savior in the way he served his family, church, and community. He was a loving husband and devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a happy man who deeply loved life and had a great love for God’s people.

Jim’s family is thankful to RossWoods Adult Day Services for the happiness they brought to his days the past several years. The family is also forever grateful for the care and compassion they received from the staff of Community Hospice, the nurses and staff at Quinton Memorial Health and Rehabilitation and Hamilton Hospice, and they express a deep, heartfelt thanks to his special caregiver, Tina Robinson, the angel that carried them all through his final days.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 9th from 3-5pm at Love Funeral Home in Dalton. A service to celebrate and honor Jim’s life will be held on Monday, June 10th at 11:30am at Rock Bridge Community Church’s Wink Theater with Reverend Matt Evans officiating. A private burial will follow at Whitfield Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to Rock Bridge Community Church, 121 W. Crawford Street, Dalton GA 30720 or RossWoods Adult Day Services, P.O. Box 307, Dalton GA 30722.