Mr. James “Jim” Howard Mayben, age 84, of Cedartown, GA, passed away on Sunday, October 31, 2021. He was born April 1, 1937 in Alabama. He was the son of the late Alvin and Carmen Posey Mayben.
James “Jim” graduated from Etowah High School in Attalla, AL, in 1955. He played football, basketball, and baseball and was selected the first team all-state quarterback his senior year. He went to The University of Alabama on a football and baseball scholarship in 1955.
He was injured and transferred to Jacksonville State University in 1958, where he continued to play football and baseball. He graduated from JSU in 1960 with a B.S in Education. While at Jacksonville State, he met Joann Lay and they were married on June 3rd, 1960.
He coached and taught 4 years in Alabama schools, then he moved to Cedartown, Ga in the fall of 1964. He became a football, baseball, and track coach at Cedartown High fall of 1964-1967. The middle of the year in 1967, Jim became principal at Purks until the end of the school year in 1969.
In the fall of 1969, he became principal at Cedartown Junior High School until his retirement in 1992. Many of his former students became educators, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and at least 5 became school superintendents.
Jim and his family attended Cedartown First Baptist Church. They became a member in 1964. He and his family were faithful members, where Jim taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, attended mission trips, and became a Deacon of the church on October 15th, 1972.
Jim was a devoted faithful servant to the Lord, his wife, and his family. His loving and caring nature was felt by many in the community. After a long, extended illness, he fought the good fight, finished the race well, never wavered on his faith, and completed his purpose. He is finally home with our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Mr. Mayben is survived by his daughters, Janna Ruark (Jeff) and Alecia Kelley (John); son, Todd Mayben (April); sisters, Pat Cassidy and Nina White; brother, Bill Mayben; grandchildren, Jeremy Ruark (April), James Ruark (Amanda), Candice Mayben, Crystal Mayben, Carli Mayben, Clayton Mayben, Jodi Grace Kelley, Emilee Kelley, and John Alvin Kelley; and great-grandchildren, Taylor Ruark, Brynlee Ruark, Jacqueline Ruark, Aiden Ruark, and Joanna James Ruark.
The funeral arrangements for Mr. James Howard Mayben will be held on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at two o’clock in the afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Cedartown with Rev. Wayne Benefield and Rev. Chris Moses officiating. Interment will follow in the Northview Cemetery.
The family of Mr. Mayben will receive family and friends on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from twelve o’clock in the afternoon until the funeral hour at the First Baptist Church of Cedartown.
The family is accepting flowers; however, donations can also be made to First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 101 N. College Street, Cedartown, GA 30125.
The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Jeremy Ruark, James Ruark, Clayton Mayben, Taylor Ruark, John Alvin Kelley, Scott Mayben, and Cory Bullard. The honorary pallbearers will be the Deacon’s of First Baptist Church, Solid Rock Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church, and his former football players.
Messages of condolence can be made to the family by visiting our website and signing the online guestbook at gammagefh.com.
The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for Mr. James Howard Mayben.
