James A. (Jim) Elrod (85) of the Georgia War Veterans Home, Milledgeville, GA, and formerly from Dublin, GA., passed away on September 3, 2020. He was born in Norfolk, VA to Jesse Alvin and Sudie Dunlo Elrod on June 4, 1935. The family moved to Jacksonville, FL in 1941 and he attended school there (Dupont Jr. High & Landon H.S.) He joined the US Marine Corps Reserves in 1952 and regular USMC in 1953.  In 1965 he joined the US Air Force from which he retired in Feb. 1974. He served in both the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. His duties took him to 16 foreign countries.

After retiring he graduated from Valdosta State University and the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He pastored Doves Creek Baptist Church in Elberton, GA for a year. He then worked at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, OK, worked manufacturing the B-1-B bomber in Palmdale, CA and then worked as a supervisor at MacDonald-Douglas in CA.

In July, 1970 he became a member of AF&AM Masonic Lodge in Rantoul, IL receiving all three degrees in one month. In October he received the degrees of Scottish Rite Masonry and later that same year was initiated into the Shrine. He moved his memberships to Kansas in 1972. Later when he moved to Dublin he affiliated with Laurens Lodge No. 75 AFM and The Valley of Middle Georgia Scottish Rite. He was initiated into The Order of the Eastern Star in February, 1971. He was demitted at the time of his death.

He was married to Carolyn Ricks of Soperton, GA in 1961. He was predeceased by his parents and his son, Kevin Morris Elrod. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Buford; his sister Sue Joyce Thomas of Jacksonville, FL; daughter, Karen and husband, Steve Bolin; son, Keith Allan Elrod and his wife LeAnn Rea; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

There will be no funeral services and he will be laid to rest in Dublin Memorial Gardens at a later date. No flowers, please. If you wish to do something in his memory, please donate to the Scottish Rite, Rite Care (address Scottish Rite, PO Box 7028, Warner Robins, GA 31095) or the Masonic Home of Georgia (PO Box 4183, Macon, GA 31208).

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SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia