James Everett Massey May 31, 2006 BIRMINGHAM, AL- James Everett Massey, Age 77, passed away May 31, 2006. Mr. Massey was born in Columbus, GA. He graduated from Baker High School in 1946 where he was recognized for his all around athletic achievements. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. During his military service he won the title of Golden Gloves Featherweight Champion. After military service, he graduated from Erskine College in 1952. His career began as an assistant football coach at the former Georgia Military Academy. He resided most of his adult life in Birmingham, AL as a successful insurance executive. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eunie Caledonia Spivey Massey and Louis Everett Massey; wife, Juanita Kirby Massey; and infant son, James Everett Massey, Jr. Survivors include, daughters, Donna Kay Parker and Rechima Dawn Massey; son, Daryl Leslie Massey; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Christine Massey Jones. Visitation !
will be held Saturday, June 3, 2006 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon at Johns-Ridout's Funeral Parlors Southside Chapel with a memorial service at 12:00 noon. Rev. Wales Goebel officiating. A graveside service will be held Monday, June 5, 2006 at 2:00 pm at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, GA on Macon Road. Johns-Ridout's Funeral Southside Chapel directing.
Published in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on 6/2/2006.

I am Lawson Turk. I graduated in the class of 1949. The fall of 45' was the beginning of my freshman year at
Baker. James Massey was a senior, that fall.  James was a short person, about 5' 4".  He was stocky and
as aggressive as anyone you would want to be around.  James did not make trouble with anyone, but if
you started the trouble, James would finish it. Your height, weight or any other attribute was no deterrent to
James.  James was endowed with charisma, that made everybody want to share his presences.  You
shared his presences, mindful, of your conduct.  You didn't want  a misunderstanding, so this made you well
aware of thoughts as well as actions around James.
 
James did get into difficulty with the administration, but nothing that he couldn't and would correct to insure
his standing with all functions, including of course , sports.
 
James athleticism was limited to football and baseball. He was good at both.
 
The following is a account of an event that best describes James.
 
Baker high was just getting into football as a High School team.  One of the first years, was the fall of 1944.
Baker High played central High during the season. CCentral high beat Baker 71  to 0.
The next fall, after a laxadial start of the season, Baker played Central High. Central High beat Baker 12 to 6
or some thing like that.The score didn't matter but, the way we played the game did.
 
James Massey, a running back, played the best game of his high school career and gaining a tremendous amount of yards against a good football team.
 
He played such a good game, that the Columbus Ledger Enquirer devoted a lot of space in the sports section to the effort of Baker High. Especially the account of how James played his heart out.  I remember very clearly the sports writer's particular accolade to James.  Using Einstein's equation of mass to relativity, etc, he wrote the following paragraph, near the end of the article, "Jet {U-235] Massey, one of the greatest little gridders to ever dig his cleats into the battle, scarred  the turf at Memorial Stadium."
 
All of Baker High were as proud as if we had won the game. The Monday following the games was a day to be remembered by Baker students.  James Massey ,almost, we believed, single handedly brought Baker High to the forefront of the citizens of Columbus, GA. as a future , in life's arena to be reckoned with.
 
The First Baker High school  Band was formed during the years mentioned above.  A Mr. Wells formed the
band and we were proud as any students in Columbus, when the band entered the stage at Memorial Stadium on football Friday night.  Mr. Wells had a daughter, I think she was Dorothy Wells.  She was a cheerleader, during her freshman year. If anyone knows of Dorothy I would appreciate hearing from them.
 
Baker High excelled in basketball, before making way in football. If I had the time I would relate the end of the game when Baker played Lagrange High.  Lagrange won the game, they though, as two Lagrange players embarrassed each other with three seconds to go to leading by 2 points.
 
I read all you e-mails although I don't know a sole, I feel connected to Baker High.
 
 Thanks for listening....................Lawson