James "Jim" Wheeless

Mr. James "Jim" Wheeless, age 72, of Thomaston, died Friday, July 12, 2024, at Upson Regional Medical Center. Funeral services for Mr. Wheeless will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 3:00 PM, in the chapel of Fletcher-Day Funeral Home, and interment will follow in Glenwood Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 PM until the funeral hour on Monday.

Mr. Wheeless was born on May 27, 1952, in Thomaston to the late Huell Otto Wheeless and the late Nell Beeland Wheeless.  He served in the Georgia National Guard and later became one of the first Emergency Medical Technicians in Upson County.  He helped develop classes and train medics for the ambulance program.  He later earned his MBA from Shorter College and worked for the Southern Company and Upson Regional Medical Center before becoming Vice President at Flint River Technical College and serving as Interim President there.  He later became Vice President at Savannah Technical College.  Mr. Wheeless spent his life in service to his community.  He was active as a football, baseball, and softball coach for the youth sports programs, and he was active in parent-teacher associations at the local schools.  He became active in local politics, serving first on the Upson County Board of Education where he helped with consolidation of the city and county school systems.  He went on to be elected to multiple terms on the Upson County Board of Commissioners, and finally before retiring he served as Upson County Manager.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Wheeless was preceded in death by a sister, Sheryl Wheeless Butler.  Survivors include his wife, Deborah Hoyal Wheeless of Thomaston; three children: Tim (Sharon) Wheeless of Thomaston; Jeff (Sharon) Wheeless of Hamilton; and Lori (Frank) Buchanan of Richmond Hill; a brother, Hugh (Mary) Wheeless; and eight grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, or the American Kidney Fund. Fletcher-Day Funeral Home of Thomaston is in charge of all arrangements.  Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com