Obituary of Dr. James Simpson Tankersley

The following obituary was transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) from a scrapbook in her possession, belonging to her great grandmother, Cora Lorena Foster Weeks. Lorena was born Jan 25, 1877 in Freestone Co, Texas and died Jan 6, 1952 in Gilmer County, Georgia. This obituary was presumably from the Gilmer County newspaper, the Times Courier, but could have been from the Atlanta, Georgia, newspaper, the Atlanta Journal/Constitution.

Surnames: Tankersley

Date: 11 Feb 1950

"Dr. Tankersley, Gilmer Leader, Dies at Canton"

   Constitution State News Service
ELLIJAY - Dr. James Simpson Tankersley, 90, widely-known Georgia physician and Gilmer County civic leader, died in a Canton hospital yesterday after a brief illness.

   Dr. Tankersley began his medical practice here in 1884 and had been a physician for the L. & N. Railroad for more than 50 years. A native of Gilmer County, he was educated in local schools and the old Atlanta Medical College which is now a part of Emory University. He was one of the oldest graduates of Emory.

   He was a member of the County, District, Georgia, and American Medical Societies. Dr. Tankersley also was a member of the Baptist Church and a Mason. Last year he received a 50-year membership pin from the local Masonic Chapter.

   Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. tomorrow from the Ellijay Baptist Church. Dr. H. P. Bell and Dr. A. B. Couch will officiate. Burial will be in the City Cemetery here.

   Survivors include a son, James S. Tankersley, Jr and one grandaughter, both of Ellijay.