James Gilmore Fletcher Whitton

James Gilmore Fletcher Whitton of Greensboro and Salisbury, North Carolina, died peacefully on August 31, 2026. Jim was born on December 24, 1931, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Larchmont, New York. After graduating from Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, Jim enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated in 1954 with a degree in Business Administration. Following graduation, he was commissioned through the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and served for three years at the Naval Air Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After transferring to Naval Reserve status, Jim began a career in sales and management with Bamby Bakers, Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina, a manufacturer and distributor of Sunbeam bakery products. He later moved to Salisbury, the home office of Bamby, and participated in the company’s merger into Flowers Industries, Inc. in 1974. He then moved from bread to beer, becoming a wholesale distributor for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. in central North Carolina. He retired from Whitton Distributors in 1989. In retirement, Jim enjoyed spending summers at Hound Ears Club in Boone, North Carolina, and winters at Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida. In January of this year, he moved permanently to assisted living at Well-Spring Retirement Community, where he spent his final months close to family and friends. Jim was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, the former Christine Hudson Peeler. He was also predeceased by his second wife of 15 years, Barbara Harmon Miller. He is survived by his son, James Jr. and wife Barbara; his daughter, Anne W. Bolyea; his daughter, Jane W. Trevey and husband Chris; and three grandsons, Walker, Whit, and Cullen. For many years, Jim chaired the Salisbury Community Foundation and served on several boards, including the Foundation For The Carolinas, as well as many local nonprofit boards. His passion for North Carolina basketball and football was a longtime source of pride and joy, shared with friends and family alike. A memorial service will take place at 4pm on Thursday, September 3 at the Chapel at St. John’s Lutheran Church 200 W. Innes Street, Salisbury, NC 28144. It will be followed by a reception at the Salisbury Country Club, 747 Club Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144. The family suggests that memorials be made in Jim’s memory to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are being handled by Summersett Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

James Gilmore Fletcher Whitton

December 24, 1931 - August 31, 2026