Taylor Funeral Home of Louisville announces the death and funeral services of Mr. James Leonard “Jim” McAlister, age 84, of Avera the Grange Community, who died Tuesday evening September 12, 2023at his home.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, September 16, in the Providence Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Pendry, Spike Jones, and  Sheriff Gary Hutchins officiating. Services may be viewed live at www.taylorfhlouisville.com. Burial will follow in the Louisville City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Cavender, Jacob Cavender, David Fairley, Harold Thompson, Andy Garrett, and Spike Jones.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. 

Jim was born in Washington, D.C.  He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he later worked at the Simplex Paper Company and served as president of the United Paper Workers International Union Local #791.  After retiring from Simplex, he moved with his wife, Sandra Jones McAlister, to the Grange Community of Jefferson County, Georgia where he set up shop in the old brick store in Grange. Jim roamed the swamps of Florida to Tennessee and made many friends along the way.  As a teenager he could be found fishing along the banks of Cedar Creek River near his home in Jacksonville. He never met a stranger and was known as “Snakeman” among his herpetology friends.  Jim was known locally as a leather craftsman and continued to make friends in what became his workshop located in the old brick store in Grange. He was the founder and member of the Cain Land Hunting Club.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Leonard G. McAlister and Dorothy Woodsum McAlister and his brother Ronald and sister, Sonya Leggett.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years Sandra and his brother-in-law John A. Jones (Spike) and sisters-in-law Barbara Garrett, Ginger Dutoit, and Jayne Friend as well as many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family extends a special thank you to caregivers and friends Harold Thompson and Dawn Scott, Family Care Inc., and to Hospice Services of Georgia for the most kind and considerate care provided to Jim and his family during his time of need.

You may sign the family’s personal guestbook online at www.taylorfhlouisville.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jim McAlister, please visit our floral store.