James "Jim" Emory Gilmer  Sr., 91,  passed away peacefully at the Elba Nursing Home on Thursday afternoon, June 18, 2026.

He was born in Mt. Holly. N.J., July 15, 1934. He was the son of James Thomas Gilmer and Dorothy Carnes Gilmer. He was also the stepson of Mary Logan Gilmer.

The family moved to Charlotte, N.C, in 1934 and then to Baltimore, Md.,  during World War II. After the war ended he moved with his family to Harrisburg, N.C., where he graduated from high school in 1952 as an honor student.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1952 and came to Camp Rucker the following summer. That's when he met Mary Nell Wilson when she was a sophomore at Troy State University. They were married Oct. 3, 1953. The couple went to Germany when Jim received military orders. He later was stationed in Kansas when the Big Red One was sent to Fort Riley.

The family moved to Atlanta, Ga., after Mr. Gilmer's  Army discharge in 1957. Mr. Gilmer earned a degree in industrial engineering from Southern Technical Institute as they reared their three sons.

Mr. Gilmer began his career in textiles in Atlanta and later moves included to Paris, Texas; Minneapolis, Minn.; Winston-Salem, N.C., Latta, S.C., and Cordell, Ga.

In 1996 after the couple retired, they moved to  Mrs. Gilmer's family's farm near the Curtis Community. They planted a tree farm and in 2003 they sold the farm and moved to Elba.

He became active in the Elba Methodist Church and sang in the church  choir. He was a member of Rotary International for many years and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was also active in the Sons of the American Revolution local chapter.

Survivors include a brother, Larry Gilmer of Virginia Beach, Va.; sons Ronald Thomas Gilmer of Austin, Texas, and his wife, Cindy Gilmer, and William Lawrence "Bill" Gilmer of Florence S.C.  Granddaughters, Elizabeth Gilmer Tomberlin,  Allison Gilmer, Nerissa (Mark) Vahle, Katie Adelaide Gilmer, Caroline (Jacob) Marke and great granddaughter Ella Tomberlin, great grandson, Luke Tomberlin, Great grandson Jack Vahle and great granddaughter Anna Kate Vahle. He was predeceased by his wife, the late Mary Nell Wilson Gilmer, who died April 14, 2026, sons, John Randall Gilmer and James Emory Gilmer Jr. , brother Ronald Gilmer and the late Barbara Land, wife of son Bill Gilmer.

Other survivors include a brother-in-law Perry Wilson (Carol) of Elba, sisters-in law Christine Knudson (Al), of Nantikoke, Md., Judy Brewer of Sarasota, Fl., Alice Thrasher (Jerry) of Charlotte, N.C., and Carolyn Johnson (Dave) of Black Mountain, N.C.

He was also predeceased by his  sister-in-law Susan Fletcher and brothers-in-law Robert Fletcher and Guy Brewer.

The family will receive friends at a visitation at the Hayes Funeral Home Monday June 22,  at 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to a graveside service and burial at the New Ebenezer Cemetery in the Curtis Community at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Elba Methodist Church, 503 Davis St., Elba, Al. 36323