James Madison Bush

September 3, 2015

James Madison Bush, age 68, of Cairo, GA passed away at Gainesville VAMC in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015.

A memorial service for Mr. Bush will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Donalsonville, GA with Rev. Jim Weaver officiating and honorary pallbearers being members of the Magnolia Squares Square Dance Club, the Sunland Swingers, The Wheel Arounds, the Belles and Beaux, the Georgia State Square Dance Association, the Dixie Federation Callers Association, and the Caller Lab. Visitation will be held on Friday evening, September 11, 2015 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville, GA.

Mr. Bush was born in Donalsonville, GA on August 14, 1947 to Walter Blackshear Bush and Edith Elaine Hayes Bush. He graduated from Seminole County High School in 1965. Sgt. Bush served in the United States Air Force from July of 1966 until being honorably discharged in January of 1970. Sgt. Bush was a Vietnam Veteran and spent nearly 3 years overseas in service to our Nation as a Weapons Mechanic on the F4D Aircraft.

After his time in the Armed Service, Mr. Bush worked in the farming and agricultural industry for many years, including over a decade with Green Circles Farms of Miller County. Mr. Bush also worked for several hospitals in the Archbold Hospital network including Grady County Memorial and most recently serving in the Medical Supplies Department in the Mitchell County Hospital.

Mr. Bush loved square dancing and was a highly respected square dance caller for many years. He devoted much of his life to helping Handi-capable Children learn to square dance. An avid square dancer and caller, Jim was known as “Bush Baby” in square dance groups. He organized and called for the Magnolia Squares square dance club of Cairo, GA. He instructed and called for Bainbridge College in the Continuing Education Department. He also called and instructed in Marianna, FL for Sunland Swingers. He was a member of Wheel Arounds in Albany, GA and Belles and Beaux of Valdosta, GA. He was a member of the Georgia State Square Dance Association, a member and held offices in the Dixie Federation Callers Association in Tifton, GA and was a member of Caller Lab of Florida and volunteered for the GSSDA Board of Directors. Mr. Bush was a member of the Pine Level Baptist Church in Cairo, GA.

He is survived by five children, Amy (Steve) McKown of Clewiston, FL, Ben (Adriana) Bush of Tallahassee, FL, Jake (Abbi) Bush of Whigham, GA, Amanda (Henry) Neel of Tallahassee, FL, and Josh (Carrie) Bush of Gainesville, FL; a brother, Joe (Irene) Bush of Blakely, GA; two sisters, Peggy Higgins of Wilmington, NC and Cindy (Les) Robinson of Donalsonville, GA; and a sister-in-law, Diane Bush of Blakely, GA. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Steven McKown, II of Millington, TN, Nicki McKown of Tallahassee, FL, Sara McKown of Clewiston, FL, Walter McKown of Clewiston, FL, Cadey Beth Neel of Tallahassee, FL, Zoe Neel of Tallahassee, FL, Sofia Bush of Tallahassee, FL, and Amelia Grace Bush of Tallahassee, FL. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and square dancers also survive.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in “Memory of James M. Bush” be made to: Gainesville VAMC 1601 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608.