James "Jim" Minton

James “Jim” Minton went home to be with the Lord on March 1, 2020, after a 7-year battle with Prostate Cancer and COPD.  He was born on March 24, 1936 in Dublin, GA to the late Jim Henry Minton and Lorene Minton.  He was born in Laurens County, Georgia, where his parents farmed.  His family lived in Savannah, Georgia, during World War II.  After a short return to Laurens County, the family moved to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, where Jim grew up and graduated from Fletcher High School.   

Jim went to work at Sav-A-Stop, Incorporated, a non-food merchandiser, after graduating high school in 1954. He started his 44-year retail career as a truck driver and left Sav-A-Stop after 20 years as a Vice President of Real Estate. He also developed and managed their Scottie Drug Store division. 

Jim’s business love was turning around failing companies and making them profitable.  While with Variety Wholesalers, he negotiated the purchase of seven failing retail chains and made them profit centers.  He continued turning failing companies in several other positions. Jim was associated with Family Dollar Stores, Super Dollar Stores, Variety Wholesalers and Ben Franklin Stores, as Vice President of Operations.  In 1989 he became President of Allied Department Stores in Savannah, Ga.  In 1991, he accepted the President’s job at Pay ‘n’ Save Drug Stores, Pacific Division, and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, to turn that company around.  

After succeeding in turning around Pay ‘n’ Save Drug Stores and being instrumental in its sale, he was called to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he succeeded in turning around MC Sports Stores.  He retired in 1998 and moved back to Florida settling in Welaka, Florida.  Not one to sit idly, he opened and operated Bigg’s Bar-B-Que and Seafood Restaurant for several years before selling it and finally retiring.   

While in Grand Rapids, he started an annual fund-raising golf tournament for Children’s Miracle Network.  From 1996 until 2016, over $2,000,000 were raised. 

He moved to Green Cove Springs in 2004 and spent time fishing and enjoying family time.  He was a major donor to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Arthritis Foundation as well as a volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kathy; mother, Lorene Minton; sons, Mark Smith and Scott Minton (Sheila); daughter Melissa Compton (Greg Fane); stepdaughter, Becky Robinson, sisters Teresa Kellum (Byron) and Lisa Frazer.  Grandchildren:  Melody Milan (Jason), Michele Speir (Christian), Ben Minton, Gary Kilgore (Jennifer), Mike Kilgore; Kimberly Ortiz (Alex), Jason Minton (Megan), Peyton Robinson.  Maxwell and Isabella Fane, Samantha, Sydney and Danielle Renstrom, Tabitha McCurdy (Brian).  Jim has 20 great grandchildren.  

He was predeceased by his father, Jim Henry, his son, Michael Minton and daughter, Malinda Kilgore.

Viewing will be held at 9:30 am, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at CrossPointe Church on CR 220 in Fleming Island, Florida with services beginning at 11:00 am, conducted by Pastor Ron Baker.  Fellowship to follow the service.  Burial will be at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, River Garden Senior Services or the American Lung Association.