James Ferguson Pack of Lawrenceville, 90, died peacefully at home on May 15, 2024. He was preceded in death by his wife of 23 years, Joyce (d. 1981) and by his wife of 32 years, Kay (d. 2019).
Pack
Mr. Pack was born on December 25, 1933, in Knoxville, Tenn., the eldest child of the late Edna Baldwin Pack and Benjamin Allison Pack. He spent his formative years in Knoxville, graduating from high school in 1951 and, at the age of 17, he answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following a year of training and duty in California, he was assigned to the 7th Fleet in the Pacific.
He served aboard the destroyer USS Jenkins during the Korean War, seeing active duty along the Korean Coast. His time in the service also afforded him the opportunity to visit Japan, China, and the Philippines.
He was discharged in November 1954 and began his studies at the University of Tennessee in January 1955. He graduated in 1960, earning a BS degree in accounting and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, and was admitted to practice law that same year.
Mr. Pack began his career with the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen in Atlanta in 1960. The following year, he left to join his client, Decatur Federal Savings Bank, as an officer in the finance department.
In May 1967, he joined Gwinnett Federal Savings Bank in Lawrenceville where he served as chief executive officer and chairman of the board for 28 years. Under his leadership, Mr. Pack successfully negotiated the sale of the bank in 1995, and after retiring, he stayed active in real estate, county government, banking, charity work, and travel.
Mr. Pack was dedicated to the Gwinnett community. He served many years with Brand Bank and was a Trustee of Georgia Gwinnett College. He did charity work with the Gwinnett Foundation, Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, Lawrenceville Boys and Girls Club, the Boy Scouts, Rotary Club of Gwinnett County, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Quality Growth, and many others. His dedication to the community was recognized when the Lawrenceville Boys and Girls Club Teen Center was named in his honor. He was also presented with the Gwinnett County Chamber Public Service Award in 1999, and was the 2007 Honoree of the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia Foundation.
A long-time member of the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, Mr. Pack served as both deacon and elder. Jim enjoyed traveling in Europe and studying Greek and Roman history. His most treasured travel memory was walking in the footsteps of Christ in Jerusalem with his brother, Richard. He valued his many friendships, rarely missing a Saturday morning breakfast with the boys at Dicky Doos Diner.
Above all, he was devoted to his family. Those left to cherish his memory include: his daughter, Lynn Pack Price and Lynn’s husband Edd of Braselton; son, James Thomas Pack and his wife, Christine of Berkeley Lake; stepson Jason Harrington and Jason’s wife Linda of Lawrenceville; stepdaughter, Allison Harrington of Buford; grandchildren Jenna Louise Zisoff, Jazmyne Kaylin Cain, Kyle Kogan Pack, Charles Parker Pack and James Preston Pack; brothers Richard Pack and Ben Pack, both of Sevierville, Tenn.; sisters Loretta Maples (Lynn) and Wilma Jean Brantley; and a number of in-laws, nephews and nieces. Mr. Pack was preceded in death by sister, Shirley Mae Hankins, and his brother, Dwight David Pack. The family would also like to acknowledge Romesha Bennett for the compassionate care given to “Papa.”
A funeral service celebrating the life of James F. Pack will be conducted on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Wages and Son Funeral Home in Lawrenceville with Pastor John Batusic officiating. The family will begin receiving friends at noon. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in his memory to the Salvation Army, Eagle Ranch or Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church.
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