Milledgeville, Georgia - James Joel Childre Sr, 94, of Milledgeville, passed away Thursday, Dec. 11, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church in Milledgeville. Following the service, the family will have a reception and a visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Graveside services will be on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Reynolds. Dr. Jerry Pickard will officiate.

In lieu of flowers the family request contributions to the donor's favorite charity.

The son of the late Joel Ernest and Emeline James Childre, Jimmy grew up in Reynolds, Georgia, on the family farm. At an early age, he learned the value of hard work and at 94 he was still working six days a week.

Jimmy graduated from Reynolds High School and received his BS from the University of Georgia. After graduation, he moved back home to Reynolds and began a 73-year career in the automobile business at Taylor County Motor Company. He was active in community affairs in Reynolds and also taught Sunday school at the Reynolds Methodist Church. He served on the city council and as mayor of Reynolds.

In 1964, Jimmy moved to Sandersville and founded Childre Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, the first of many car dealerships and the beginning of the Childre brand of automobile dealerships. Today, Childre Ford in Sandersville, Childre Nissan and Childre Chevrolet in Milledgeville are managed by Jimmy's sons and grandsons. His brothers owned and operated Childre dealerships in north and south Georgia. The Childre dealerships have been recognized by car manufactures as top performing dealerships in the country.

The Childre dealerships offered Jimmy the ideal opportunity to succeed in business while serving others. His customers were generational, as one generation would bring the next to buy a car from "Mr. Jimmy." Many of his customers became friends and so did his staff. Everyone appreciated Jimmy's sincerity and fairness in how he treated people over the seven decades of his career. The car dealerships offered his children the opportunity to grow up working together in their family business and succeed in having their own auto dealerships.

In addition to his parents, Jimmy is predeceased by two children, Linda Childre Kuecker and Erny Childre, and his brother, Rudolph Childre.

He is survived by six children, Jimmy Childre, Jr of Sandersville, Bob Childre of Tennille, Charlotte Childre of St Augustine Florida, J.J. Childre (Lori) of Gadsden, Alabama, Angel Childre, Jason Childre (Angie); brother, Taylor Childre of Milledgeville; and sister, Betty Welsh of Moultrie. His greatest joy were his nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the donor's charity of choice.

Williams Funeral Home of Milledgeville is in charge of arrangements.