James William Estes

Coach James W. Estes passed away peacefully on Friday, September 25, 2015. Coach Estes was born on September 26, 1926 in Walker County, Alabama. He was one of fourteen children born to Cranford and Pearl Estes. J.W. graduated from Curry High School, having been voted the Most Athletic and Biggest Flirt of his Senior Class. Dub then joined the Army, where he served honorably in the Occupation of Japan; landing two days after the atomic bomb hit Nagasaki. Following his discharge, James returned to Alabama where he finished technical training. However, as fate would have it, J. W. was asked to teach and coach in a local high school. In 1953 James married young Peggy Clark. He then attended Jacksonville State Teachersâ€™ College where he received a degree in Physical Education. James and Peggy took their newborn son to Decatur, Georgia in 1955, when Coach began his Georgia teaching career at Southwest DeKalb High School. Mr. Estes subsequently completed his Masterâ€™s Degree at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1958. Coach Estes worked in the DeKalb County School System for thirty years, before retiring in 1985. He was beloved by students at SWD from 1955-66; at Walker High School from 1967-1973; and then returning to SWD from 1974-85. Coach Estes touched thousands of lives during his long career and remained in contact with many hundreds of those students through the social media, reunions and other functions. He was a man of humor and wit. It is difficult to think of the Coach and not have a smile on your face. He will be missed by his legions of admirers, but most of all by his family. Mr. Estes is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Peggy Clark Estes; three sons and their wives, Keith & Renee, Chad & Paula, and Jamey & Andrea. Pops was adored by his grandchildren, Lyndsey Goff (Lee), Kara Long (Tom), Kristin Mitchell (Dustin), Jared Estes, Kyle Estes, Andrew Estes, Sarah Estes, Samuel Estes and Hannah Estes; as well as his great-grandchildren, Riley Mitchell, Macy Goff and Maddox Goff. Surely no man ever loved his grandkids as much as Pops did. Mr. Estes was preceded in death by his parents and siblings; Benjamin, George, Adell Estes Lay, Richard, Homer and Bobby Estes. Surviving siblings include Mary Miller, Dorothy Atkins, Maxine Gammon, Jack Estes, Emmalee Brown, Sarah Umphrey and Buddy Estes. James also leaves behind a multitude of friends who he had known for 50+ years. Mr. Estes was a deacon at Rockdale Baptist Church and the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Beasley Drug Store. Visitation will be at Scot Ward Funeral Services in Conyers, GA on Sunday, September 27th from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held at Rockdale Baptist Church on Monday, September 28th at 11 am. Coach will lie in state from 9:30 am until service time. Burial will take place on Tuesday, September 29th at 10 am (CST) in Blooming Grove Cemetery, Curry, AL. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.

James William Estes

September 26, 1926 - September 25, 2015