Dr. James Robert Belflower, Jr., 70, died Sunday, November 19, 2006, in Manchester, England. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 4, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III will officiate with a private burial to follow at a later date. The family will receive friends immediately following the memorial service at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Dr. Belflower was born on June 6, 1936 in Tifton and was the son of James Robert Belflower, Sr. and Junia Burk Belflower, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Charles L. Belflower.
A graduate of Tifton High School, Dr. Belflower pursued an academic career, attending Abraham Baldwin College, Norman Park College, and receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from LaGrange College. He received his Master’s Degree from Emory University, his Doctorate from Duke University and Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University in England. Upon receiving his degree from Oxford, he became an instructor in the Department of American Studies at Manchester University. He remained a teacher and lecturer of American Literature for over 30 years until his retirement in 1995. He continued to work as guest lecturer at various conferences around Europe and the United States even after his retirement. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tifton.
Dr. Belflower is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Caroline and Wayne Chapman of Statesboro; one aunt, Marjorie Corcoran of Decatur; several nieces and nephews, Lesli and Tom Holton of Tifton, Barbara and Kevin Hampton of Tifton, Carol and John Bland of Albany, Celia and Doug Grimes of Statesboro, Steve and Jenny Chapman of Statesboro and Bryan Chapman of Denver, Colorado; and several great-nieces and nephews, Christopher Hampton, Rebecca Hampton, Matthew Hampton, Noah Hampton and Joseph Hampton, all of Tifton; D. J. Grimes, Rachel Chapman and Sydney Chapman, all of Statesboro; and Charles Bland and Braxton Bland, both of Albany.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Organ Fund at the First Baptist Church of Tifton, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.