Deacon James Carl Singleton, 79, of East Palatka, entered the sunset of life on Friday, January 29, 2010 at Shands & UF Medical Center in Jacksonville as a result of work-related injuries sustained on his farm on Tuesday, January 26, 2010.

A native of Leary, (Calhoun County) Georgia, he was the son of Willie Mae Jones and Buster Singleton, Sr., born Saturday, November 29, 1930. He was educated in the Calhoun County GA., School District and continued his education in Putnam County where he has resided for the past 65 years. He earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education at Florida Memorial College in St. Augustine (now known as Florida Memorial University Miami) and was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Mr. Singleton was a respected commercial farmer for 32 years and was the owner of Singleton & Sons Farms who supplied potatoes for Frito Lay potato chips. He was equally a respected educator in the Putnam County School District from August 1962 thru June 1979, teaching 6th grade at Central Academy Elementary School, Palatka Middle School, and retiring at Mellon Elementary School. He was a faithful member and deacon at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. He was a Korean War veteran (1952-1954) honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. He was united in holy matrimony to the former Mary Stamper on July 22, 1955 in Folkston, GA and during their 54 years of marriage, he became the proud father of two daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.

To memorialize the life and legacy of Mr. James C. Singleton, donors may support a promising student by contributing to the James C. Singleton Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Florida Memorial University, 15800 N.W 42nd Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33054 .

Homecoming Celebration will be 11 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2010 at W. H. Beasley Middle School, 1100 South 18th Street, Palatka. The Reverend Anthony Q. Robinson, Sr., pastor of Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church is the eulogist. Interment will be in Oak Hill West Cemetery. There will be no viewing during the service.