James Harry Butler

James Harry "Jimmy" Butler took his last breath on Earth and his first in Heaven on Saturday, December 2, 2023, as he rode his bicycle to meet his parents and family. Jimmy was born on April 15, 1951, to the parents of Willie Thomas Butler and Hazel Leslie Gilreath Butler, who met their son with open arms and much love. Also, to meet Jimmy will be grandparents, Harry McConnell Butler and Sallie Saine Butler; Marion Jasper Gilreath and Golia Blackwell Gilreath; stepfather, Joe Morris Christopher; special aunt, Janie Gilreath Ward; many additional aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Butler's and Gilreath's.

Jimmy was our special little handicap baby when he was born from the drug Thalidomide, which caused children to be born with no limbs or abnormal limbs and defective organs. Jimmy was fortunate that he had all arms and legs and a smart brain to go with them. He never let anything slow him down and did anything he wanted in life. Doctors were not familiar with babies born with this problem in the 1950s and said Jimmy would probably not live to be nine years old. He lived to be 72!!! To quote Jimmy's favorite saying: "I'm smarter than the average bear." Today, the doctors are calling this The Apert Syndrome. Eventually, it causes the kidneys to shut down.

He was very active until his 60s, and problems began to develop. He was in and out of hospitals with many surgeries until his body could not take anymore. "Life is like a bicycle; to keep your balance, you must keep moving." Many of you probably remember Jimmy riding his bicycle around the county. From Mt. Olive Church Road all the way to the Ranger Camp. Up the hills on Highway 52E and onto the Ranger Camp Road. He stopped along the way to visit relatives and would continue on and then all the way back home. We constantly worried about him doing this, but he loved it. His mother was the best and let him ride as long as he wanted to. He was in great shape from riding his bicycle but eventually had to give it up.

Jimmy has resided at Chestnut Ridge Nursing Home since August 2023. They were very good to him, and even though he loved Northside Hospital better than any place, we had to make Chestnut Ridge his home. Jimmy will be leaving behind many family members and loved ones including, half-sister, Melissa Christopher Hoshaw, Dahlonega; half-brother, Joe Morris Christopher, Jr., Flowery Branch; aunts: Bobbie Butler, Dahlonega; Lorene Butler Lee, Canton; Dorothy Butler Norton; Virginia; his very special cousins, Elease Ward Burnett, Kenneth John Burnett and Tammy Burnett Kenimer. So many cousins and friends, they would wrap around the world a couple of times.

Jimmy will be laid to rest at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church between his mother and father. His headstone has been in place for many, many years.  His Granny Sallie placed this after Jimmy’s father passed away in 1982. Jimmy’s mother passed away in 2015.

Visitation will be held at Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM.  No graveside services will be held.

Pallbearers: James Butler, Nick Burnett, Blake Burnett, Toby Sherrill, Dusty Kenimer, and Chris Dyer.

To share a memory or a condolence with the family, please visit Mr. Butler's online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com.

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home 2068 Highway 19 North Dahlonega, GA 30533