James Eliott Barrow





James Eliott Barrow, age 84 passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, after an extended illness.

Visitation was at CarmichaelHemperley Funeral Home, Peachtree City, Georgia on Thursday, Dec. 29 from 6-8 p.m.

A graveside service was held at Ways Baptist Church Cemetery, Stellaville, Georgia at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 followed by a memorial service at the home of James Eliott Barrow, Jr.

He was born in 1921 near Matthews, Georgia, to James Ezra (Doc) Barrow and Sara Murray. He attended primary school in Matthews and secondary school in Wrens before going to Augusta College for one year and then transferred to the Georgia Institute of Technology where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

During college he learned to fly and was an active and passionate pilot most of his life including four years as a Naval aviator and thousands of hours as a civilian pilot. On graduation he went to work for Westinghouse in steam turbine generator design until the outbreak of WWII when he enlisted and was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy. Much of his four-year Navy career was spent as a primary flight instructor. After discharge from the military he returned home and farmed with his father before going to work first as a manufacturing consultant at a facility in Waynesboro, Georgia and later as general manager of Knox Warrenton Company, a metal kitchen cabinet manufacturer in Warrenton, Georgia.

In 1956 he left Knox Warrenton and with J.A. (Red) Thrift Jr. founded JEBCO, Inc., a contract manufacturing concern, in Jonesboro, Georgia. The 1958 addition of P.H. Giddens formed the nucleus of the management team that would successfully guide JEBCO for thirty-plus years. JEBCO continues in business under the guidance of James Barrow, Randy Thrift, and Stephen Giddens the grandson and sons of the founding management team.

In addition to business, Mr. Barrow had wide-spread other interests he pursued at home and on numerous excursions worldwide. He was a life-long supporter of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a firm belief in the value of technical education. He believed that the most significant contributions can be made by exercising God-given talents to their fullest. The exercise of his talents created employment and wealth, and he was proud of that.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Anne Bray Barrow; two sons, James Eliott Barrow Jr. and Gregory Watson Barrow; four grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

By Mr. Barrow Sr.’s request, in lieu of flowers please make contributions to Ways Baptist Church or Mt. Moriah Methodist Church, in care of Postmaster, Matthews, Georgia, 30818.

Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home Peachtree City, Georgia, (770) 631-9171.


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