James "Hugh" Gordon, 61, of Tifton, died Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 1, 2010 at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. Rev. Steve Webb will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his sons, Hardy, Adam and Luke Gordon, Brother Fleming, Jerry Connor and Joe Kunes. Honorary pallbearers are Kim Youngblood, Annette Roberts, Cheree Miller, Pete and Janet Kenning, Joe Tinsley, Roger Womack, Hubert and Martha Massey, John and Betty Jean Prince, Millie Martin, Mary Anne and Gary Simmons and Nancy and Bill Trawick. The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 31, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Gordon was born on June 27, 1949 in Atlanta to the late Melba Hugh Smith Gordon and James Homer Gordon. After obtaining his undergraduate degree in business, his Masters degree in accounting and his juris doctorate from the University of Georgia, he practiced estate law with Coopers and Lybrand National Accounting firm in Tampa, Fla. He then moved his family to Tifton to practice general law, first with Sims and Fleming, PC and then opening his own firm, J. Hugh Gordon, PC. He was a passionate and proud attorney, serving citizens of South Georgia for over 33 years. His practice areas included general civil practice in all state and federal courts, corporate law, personal injury law, workers compensation law, estate planning law and probate law.
Mr. Gordon served as president of Tift Circuit Bar Association, volunteered for events at YMCA, supported Tift County Special Olympics and proudly supported Kids Advocacy Coalition with the state board of attorneys. He was a member of First Methodist Church, where he served as a teen Sunday school teacher and was a past member of Tifton Rotary Club. He had recently been named People’s Choice Award for Best Attorney in Tift County and that made him extremely proud, proving that his clients believed he served them extraordinarily well.
Mr. Gordon was an outstanding athlete for Tift County High School, lettering in four sports: football, where he was named to the Georgia All-State team; baseball, where he was named to the Georgia All-State team as pitcher; basketball; and wrestling. He was an avid supporter of the University of Georgia athletics. He proudly played for the Georgia Bulldogs under the direction of legendary Coach Vince Dooly on the 1967-1970 teams. He was asked to serve as assistant coach and continued to keep close ties with his fellow teammates and his players. He also served with the University of Georgia Police Department as a police officer during his graduate studies. He loved his family dearly.
Mr. Gordon is survived by his wife, Susan Riddle Gordon and his beloved sons and daughters-in-law and granddaughter, Dr. James Hardy and Claire Gordon and Catherine Louise Gordon of Monroe, La., Adam Stephens and Kelly Gordon of Folly Beach, S.C. and Luke Riddle Gordon of Tifton. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Bruce Lucker; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Debra Gordon; brothers-in-law and wives, Tom and Juli Riddle and Dave and Barbara Riddle; and sisters-in-law and husbands, Judy and Warren Fletcher and Sarah and Fred Powell. He loved his many nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Hampton Riddle team, Tift County Special Olympics or your favorite charity.