James W. Stone, 94, of Bainbridge, GA, died Thursday, June 7, 2012 at Memorial Manor Nursing Home.

A private funeral service will be held on Monday, June 11, 2012 at St. John’s Episcopal Church with The Reverend June Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Oak City Cemetery with Jimmy Dickson, Jon McRae, Buster Bolton, David Bryan, Henry Metcalf, Bobby Cook, Vance Custer, Vic Dickerson, Joe Higdon, Bill Holt, Ed Cole, Thad Pettyjohn, Lou Merritt, Sam Griffin, Harold Lambert, and Tom Wilkerson serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2012 at Stone’s Home Center, 601 East Calhoun Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 516 East Broughton Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817 or to the Joanna E. Stone Scholarship Fund, Bainbridge College, P.O. Box 990, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Mr. Stone was born August 13, 1917 in Marion, VA, the son of James Ralph Stone and Laura Belle Groseclose Stone. He was a graduate of Marion High School and a graduate of the University of Georgia. Mr. Stone was a captain of the United States Army Air Corps, serving during World War II. In 1959, he founded Stone’s Inc., which became a nine location retail hardware and building supply company. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and was involved in many facets of business and civic activities in South Georgia and North Florida.

Survivors include his two daughters, Laura Caroline Stone Bridges and Joanna Elisabeth Stone, both of Bainbridge, GA; his two grandsons, Tommy H. Bridges, Jr. and his wife, Kristin Shetler Bridges of Dunwoody, GA, and James Dickinson Bridges of New York City, NY; his two great-grandsons, William Erickson Bridges and Harlin Stone Bridges of Dunwoody, GA; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Stone was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Bower Stone; and his brother, Harold J. Stone.

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