James Arthur Baxley

James Arthur Baxley, 77, of Marianna, FL, died Friday, November 29, 2024, at Jackson Hospital. 

He was a graduate of Grand Ridge High School, and entered the Army Infantry branch of the military a short time after graduation. He was wounded in action twice in the Vietnam War and was a Purple Heart recipient for both incidents. 

James worked professionally as a supervisor in MRDP and as a unit treatment rehab specialist at Florida State Hospital and retired after 32 years.

He was a loving husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, and father, and he loved sports, helping to coach all of his boys in baseball through the high school age, and sitting front and center to watch his son Josh through many years of travel ball, high school and college baseball, as well as his daughter Lori in cheerleading.

In November of 2015, James was honored with the Florida Veterans Walk of Honor designation, a tribute to our brave service men and women. In his honor and memorial, a brick with his name and service on it was placed behind Florida’s Capitol in the outside plaza.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. Baxley and Mary A. Carmichael; his siblings, Ralph E. Baxley, James (Jimmy) A. Baxley, Shirley F. Hamilton, Margie M. Rogers; and his daughter, Rhonda D. Baxley.

James is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Sandra Elizabeth; his children, Joshua Tanner Baxley, James Dewayne Baxley (Jennifer), Michael Wade Baxley (Stacey), Lori Denise Gable (Randall), Donna Wise, Ricky Lynn Kelly, Maranda Derr; 17 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 2 PM, at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel, with Rev. Juno Douglas officiating. Interment will follow in Cypress Community Cemetery.

Visitation will take place an hour prior to the service at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel.