James Lamar Freeman

James L Freeman, 94, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2025, after a brief illness. Jim was born on December 5,1930 in Emporia, Kansas, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, an only child of Ernest and Lavada Freeman. Jim lived briefly in Michigan then moved to Delaware, where he lived for 29 years and raised his family before retiring to the South, first to New Bern, North Carolina and later to Atlantic Beach, Florida.

Jim was a proud graduate of the University of Alabama (class of 1952) and thereafter was a devoted fan and follower of the Crimson Tide. After college, he served time in the U.S. Army near the end of the Korean War and enjoyed a short period of amateur race car driving. In 1956 he started employment at General Motors Corporation in Delaware where he worked in various planning and quality roles until his retirement in 1988.

Jim married Ann Hargrave Fullton of Greensboro, North Carolina in 1959 and was happily married for over 66 years. He was especially proud of the three boys they raised together. He enjoyed his community, friends, and the churches they attended. Always active, Jim would often be found enjoying boating with friends, maintaining boats, fixing cars, improving homes or yards (his or family), woodworking for others or charities, canvas sewing, or any other hands-on project he could find. Doing work for others made him happy, especially working side-by-side with any of his three boys or their kids.

He is survived by his wife Ann, and children, James Jr (Terri) of San Antonio TX, Greg (Joan) of New Hamburg NY, William (Cheryl) of Ponte Vedra Beach FL, and seven grandchildren: Christopher, Joshua, Jill, Ann, Abigail, Nicholas and Lindsay, and 5 great grandchildren.

A memorial service was held in Fleet Landing, Atlantic Beach FL, on July 22nd. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.