Dr. James Augustus Redfearn, Jr.

On June 5th, 2025, Dr. James Augustus Redfearn, longtime resident, and prominent physician of Dalton, GA, passed away at the age of 97. Dr. Redfearn was born in Albany, GA in June of 1927, where he grew up and later enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 during World War Two and served as a medic / corpsman. Always an excellent student, Jim attended the University of Georgia, where he focused on pre-medicine and as an undergraduate, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. He subsequently received a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and Emory University with a concentration on internal and cardiac medicine. While he attended the University of Georgia, he met his future wife of 75 years, Agnes Chapman. They married in 1950.

He moved to Dalton in 1955, where he served as a physician in the community for more than 40 years. His practice included partnerships with Dr. Sherwood Jones, Drayton Sanders, and Carl Lancaster. He was a lifetime member of Dalton First United Methodist Church, where he worked in several capacities through the years, including leadership roles in the Friendship Sunday School classes and Bible Studies. A dedicated volunteer, Jim always signed up to help those in need, as well as local charities. Jim spent several years volunteering at the Health Department where he served on the Board. He served to celebrate our veterans by placing flags at cemetery gravesites on Memorial and Veteran’s Day, along with serving as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army during the Christmas season. He also volunteered with the Dalton Meals on Wheels Program.

In his later years, Jim worked for the local charity, DOCUP, a group dedicated to facilitating various issues for those in need. It was not unusual for Jim to quietly pay utility bills from his personal funds to help those in difficult financial situations. As a member of the Rotary Club, he was granted the Paul Harris lifetime achievement award for years of outstanding service. His dedication to voluntary service is summed up by one of his favorite quotes: “One thing I know-the only ones among you who will really be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

Jim loved sports, especially University of Georgia football, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Atlanta Braves baseball team. He was a golfer for many years, and an avid runner well into his eighties and played bridge regularly for many years.

Jim was predeceased by his wife, Agnes, sisters Sarah Wetherbee and Mary Kaliher, as well as his son, Paul Redfearn. He is survived by his daughters, Beth Verlezza (Tony), and Leigh Veasey (Jack), along with his daughter in law Sharon Redfearn, granddaughter Lori Piltz (Joe), and great granddaughters Abigail and Eleanor.

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. James Augustus Redfearn, Jr., will be conducted on Tuesday, June 17, at 2:00 P.M. in the sanctuary of Dalton First United Methodist Church.

The family will receive friends for visitation in the church atrium from 12:00 noon until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the United Methodist Church in Dalton (500 South Thornton Ave., Dalton, GA 30720) or DOCUP (links below).

Give - Dalton FUMC / DOCUP - Help for local people, by local people