James Wilburn Scoggins III

James Wilburn Scoggins III, beloved husband, father, and grandfather died peacefully surrounded by his family on August 22, 2024, in Albany, New York. He was born in Covington, Georgia on April 28, 1940, the son of James Wilburn Scoggins Jr. and Sarah Hamric Scoggins. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Anne Glenn Scoggins, son James Wilburn Scoggins IV of Albany, NY, daughter Suzanne Elizabeth Scoggins of Boston, MA, son-in-law Edward Hung, granddaughters Octavia Anne Scoggins-Hung, Katerina Marie Scoggins-Hung, and Zelda Elizabeth Scoggins-Hung, sister Alice Scoggins Holland, nephew Marty Holland, and niece Kate Rollins. He was predeceased by his daughter-in-law Nelly Bigelow-Hutchison. 

Jim grew up in Bowdon, Georgia and graduated from Bowdon High School in 1958. He attended West Georgia College where he was elected to Mu Zeta Alpha scientific honor society. In 1963, he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in zoology. After college, Jim joined the family business, Scoggins 5 & 10 in Bremen and Bowdon and Scoggins Furniture in Bowdon. He purchased the dilapidated Bremen Theatre in 1984 and reinvented it to house his custom framing, art, and gift business, Scoggins Ltd, The Georgian Gallery. He was in his element during the 18-month project, designing and doing most of the construction on the historic structure and preserving the original theatre stage with the marquee and memorabilia. As a member of the Bremen Rotary Club for many years, he served as president and was awarded the designation of Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as president of the Bremen Merchants Association and as advisory committee chairman for the Bremen Boy Scouts. 

Spending time with family was always Jim’s first priority. When his children were young, he closed the Bowdon store to be able to spend more time with them. At age 79, he began the final chapter of his life when he and his wife purchased a new home and moved to Albany, New York to be close to their children and grandchildren. In Albany, he enjoyed giving his granddaughters rides on the lawn mower and recliner and meticulously fixing broken toys and cherished breakfasts of grits and orange juice. Jim was a do-it-yourselfer who loved a good project. He was known for approaching each activity with a slow, steady, and precise manner. He was also a lifelong avid reader and traveler. Some of his favorite travel experiences included seeing the ancient terracotta warriors in Xi’an, China, climbing to the center of the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, and a week-long float down Georgia’s Ocmulgee River on a raft that he designed and built. Jim’s life seemed to come full circle when he and his wife cruised around South America and sang in the ship’s choir, just as they had at West Georgia College where they first met as choir members. 

His family will hold a private celebration of life in Albany and later scatter his ashes at his most treasured locations at home and abroad. A permanent memorial will rest at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Neese, Georgia.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.