James Monroe Gilbreath

Jimmy Gilbreath went to be with the Lord on July 1, 2010 at Southern Oaks Health Care Center in St. Cloud, FL.

Mr. Gilbreath was born March 4, 1917 in Cullman, Alabama. He moved to Lake Wales in 1927, and graduated in 1938 from Lake Wales High School. In the eighth grade, he won the DAR award for best all around student and also the award for best penmanship in Polk County. He signed his own high school graduation diploma and 20 years later signed all the diplomas for his son's class. While in Lake Wales High School, he served all four years as the class president and was also the Highlander's quarterback for four years. The team won the Ridge Conference Title his senior year.

Mr. Gilbreath moved to Jacksonville, FL after his high school graduation and was married on February 2, 1940 to the late Bobbye Gilbreath. They returned to Lake Wales in August 1945. He was a charter member and past president of the Lion's Club in Lake Wales. He and his wife assisted in opening one of the early Publix stores in Polk County.

They later owned and operated their own business, Jimmy's Superette Grocery (IGA). He worked in their store for more than 20 years and later worked for Gulf Life Insurance Company before retiring the first time. He then started a business called Signs & Crafts and made numerous signs for local businesses. His work can still be seen all over Lake Wales. His hobbies included wood carvings of animals and birds. He also enjoyed fishing with friends and family and was an avid Gator fan. Not one to sit still, he worked for Publix again for some time after his retirement.

He moved to Kissimmee to live with his son and his family in May 2005, but always remembered and loved his many friends in Lake Wales. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and sang in the choir for more than 50 years. Mr. Gilbreath in predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Bobbye Gilbreath, his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

He will be missed by his family which includes his son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Judy Gilbreath; his daughter and son-in-law, Janyce and Benny Cruze; his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Ray and Dawn Cruze; his grandson, Artie Van Wart; and two great-grandsons, Dalton Cruze and Adam Van Wart. He is also survived by his two sisters, Ruth Ayscue of Plant City, FL and Reval Herndon of Adrian, GA; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and was loved by all his family.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, July 09, 2010 at the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales.

To view his tribute video, click the link below:
http://videos.lifetributes.com/148772

To view the webcast of his service, please click the link below:
http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/149175