James "Joe" Joseph Sizemore

James “Joe” Joseph Sizemore – 91
Of Ray City, Georgia passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia. He was born on March 2, 1932 in Alapaha, Georgia to the late Aubrey Sizemore and Maude (Griner) Sizemore. He was an entrepreneur and lifelong educator.
He graduated from Nashville High School in 1949. During the 1950s & early 1960s he served in the Georgia Army National Guard. He earned undergraduate degrees from Emory University and Georgia Southern University, and a master's degree and a six-year specialist degree in school administration from Valdosta State University. Prior to joining the Berrien County School System, he taught high school math in Irwin County and science in Brooks County. He obtained a grant to study at the Maharajah University in Mumbai, India and participated in an educational survey throughout the country. He taught at all levels from P-12 through graduate education and served as the last principal of the Ray City School. He introduced the first classroom computers in Berrien County, and taught computer operations and science at Nashville Middle School from 1981-1985. He built the first school networks, and later managed the computer systems for the Berrien County Board of Education. He retired from the school system as the county Technology Coordinator in 1997. After retirement he was elected three times to the Berrien County Board of Education, serving as a member and chair of the board. He founded a community library at Ray City and served as its manager for 20 years. In recognition of his civic contributions, the citizens of Ray City named the Joe Sizemore Community Library in his honor. He was also an entrepreneur and created several commercial enterprises in industrial chemical manufacturing and insurance agencies.
Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Diane (Miley) Sizemore and his brother, Robert “Bobby” Sizemore (Laynette).
Survivors include his children, James “Jim” Sizemore, Jr., of Ray City, Georgia, Lee Ann Stafford and husband George of Panama City Florida, Jonathan “Jon” Sizemore and wife Virginia of Decatur, Georgia; grandchildren, Lauren Swilley (Will), James “Jay” Sizemore, III (Chelsey), Kelly Walker (David), Jacob “Jake” Stafford, Joseph “Hunter” Sizemore, Danica Todd (Charles), Derek Barkalow; great-grandchildren, Oliver Hall, Eloise Walker, Sophia Sizemore, Xavier Todd; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, October 2, 2023 in the Chapel of Music Funeral Services, Lakeland with burial to follow in New Ramah Cemetery, Ray City, Georgia. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . The Sizemore family is being served by the compassionate and caring staff of Music Funeral Services of Lakeland.