James Hunt Stovall, Sr.

James Hunt Stovall, Sr., 92, of Greenville, SC, passed away October 7, 2022, at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville, SC, after a short illness.

Son of the late Lennie Lee and Annie Lee Hunt Stovall, Jim Stovall was born in Elberton, GA on September 20, 1930. He was an Eagle Scout, as were both of his sons and one grandson, Luke. He was editor of the high school newspaper and President and Valedictorian of Elberton High School’s Class of 1947.

Jim earned his Civil Engineering Degree at Clemson College, and upon graduation in 1951, worked for his uncle James M. Hunt’s architectural firm in Elberton, before serving overseas as First Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War. He was concrete construction manager for a 500-bed hospital in Taegu, which is still operational today.

Back in the States, Jim earned his Master of Environmental Engineering Degree at Georgia Tech in 1956, married Gloria Ann Perkins in 1957, and became the first environmental engineer for International Paper Company in Pine Bluff, AR, where both boys were born. Jim & Gloria moved to Mobile, AL in 1962, where their daughter was born. In 1971, they moved to Greenville, SC, where he founded the Environmental Division of J. E. Sirrine Company. He then co-founded Sirrine Environmental Consultants as a separate company. He retired in the 1990’s as Sr. VP of Rust Environment and Infrastructure, Inc.

Jim & Gloria went on mission trips to 16 countries, along with 20 stateside missions. He served more than 30 years on Greenville’s Salvation Army Advisory Board; Board of Visitors for North Greenville University and Charleston Southern University; Clemson Corps board; and more than twenty years on Anderson University’s Board of Trustees.

Mr. Stovall received the Elbert Chamber’s Native Citizen award in the 1990’s, Clemson University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 2017, and an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Anderson University in 2021.

He was predeceased by his parents, wife of 62 years Gloria, sisters Louise Stovall & Margaret Stovall Thompson, and son Jim Stovall, Jr.

Survivors include son Steve Stovall (Karen) of Anderson, SC; daughter Beth Stovall Byrne (Chris) of Spartanburg, SC; and five grandchildren: David Zabriskie, Luke & Lydia Stovall, and Nicholas & Zachary Byrne. He is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be Saturday, October 15th from 11:00 AM – 12:45 PM at Taylors First Baptist Church, The Gathering Area, 200 W. Main Street, Taylors, SC. Services will follow at 1:00 PM at Taylors First Baptist Church Sanctuary. Burial will be 3:00 PM Sunday, October 16th at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Dr., Greenville, SC 29609.

The service will be livestreamed at https://watchlive.taylorsfbc.org/

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials to Anderson University, Stovall Family Endowed Scholarship, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621; Clemson University, Stovall Family Endowed Scholarship, Clemson, South Carolina 29634; or Greenville Salvation Army, www.SalvationArmyCarolinas.org/GreenvilleSC or at PO Box 1237, Greenville, SC 29602.

Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive in Greenville is in charge of arrangements. 

Announcement courtesy of Berry Funeral Home.