HUBERT AUSTIN JAMES Services for Austin James will be held Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Mediator with the Reverend Helen Tester officiating. Burial will be in the church's Columbarium with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Mr. James, 86, of Meridian died at his home on November 28. After graduating from Canton High School, he served in the U. S. Army in the African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns from 1942 to 1945. He attended the University of Mississippi and upon graduation began his financial career with CIT Financial Corporation. In 1970 he joined Peoples Bank of Mississippi and in 1987 he moved to Great Southern National Bank where he served as President and CEO at both financial institutions. After retirement, he continued to serve as a Director on the Board of Great Southern National Bank. Mr. James served as a Trustee of the University Of Mississippi School Of Banking and on numerous committees of the Mississippi Bankers Association. In Meridian, he served as Director and President of the Greater Meridian Chamber of Commerce, President and Director of Mid-Mississippi Development District, Director of Mississippi Economic Council, Chairman and Director of Meridian Industrial Foundation, Chairman of the United Way, President of Northwood Country Club, Chairman of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Meridian Symphony Board, and a member of the Meridian Community College Foundation Board. Mr. James was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator where he served on the Vestry, as Treasurer, as Junior Warden and as Senior Warden. He is survived by his wife of sixty years Alice Wilson James, a son Stephen James and his wife Toni; daughter Karen Lindsey James; grandson Neil James and his wife Nikki; two great-grandsons Bailey and Riley James; and a great-granddaughter Avery James. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Velma James, a brother William James, Jr., two sisters Kathryn Sweeney and Jacquelyn Boutwell and a grandson Chris James. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Church of the Mediator Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 3400, Meridian, MS 39303, the Austin and Alice James Endowment Fund at Meridian Community College, 910 Highway 19 North, Meridian, MS 39307 or a charity of your choice. Honorary pallbearers will be Leslie Usher, Sam Henry, Jim Anderson, Gil Carmichael, Hal Dabbs, and Chuck Rea. Family and friends may sign the online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com Visitation will be Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the church Parish Hall.
