James Tibbs, Jr.

Obituary For James Tibbs, Jr.

DR. JAMES TIBBS, JR. - Age 88, Of Atlanta, Georgia passed away. He was born on July 14, 1924, was a proud veteran who served in the Marines from 1943-1946 in the Pacific front of World War II on five front lines, and received his doctorate degree in Pharmacology from Xavier University in New Orleans. During the civil rights era, he started a charter USV Club for black soldiers to have a meeting place for business organizations and nightly entertainment. Dr. Tibbs continued to serve his community being one of the first blacks in the country to own his own pharmacy and Tibbs Pharmacy was a part of the Hunter Street (now known as M. L. King Jr. Dr.) thriving black business district. In 1988, Dr. Tibbs was honored by the Pfizer Drug Corporation for filling one million prescriptions during his tenure as a pharmacist. In 1963, he formed Vita Elixir Company, a pharmaceutical company, and secured a patent for Vita Elixir tonic that remained active for 50 years. Dr. Tibbs established the GVEA (Georgia Voters Equality Administration) to ensure equality amongst black votes by being counted in central elections. A lifelong Republican, Dr. Tibbs ran for U.S. Senate twice and U.S. Congress three times against the current 5th District Congressman, Hon. John Lewis. He was preceded in death by: James and Mattie Tibbs (parents), siblings Elizabeth, Theodore, Martha and Oliver Tibbs. He is survived by his wife, Jaya S. Tibbs of Atlanta, Georgia; son, Krsna I. (Dara) Tibbs of Louisville, Kentucky; brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Homegoing Service will be Friday, January 3, 2014 at 3:00 P. M. at the Murray Brothers Funeral Home, 1199 Utoy Springs Road, S. W., Atlanta. The family will receive friends at the Murray Brothers Funeral Home one hour before the funeral. Interment, with Military Rites at Hopewell Church Cemetery in Dalton, Georgia on Saturday, January 4, 2013 at 12:00 Noon. Condolences may be sent to the family and sign the online guestbook at website; www.willisfuneralhomedalton.com. Arrangements by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia.

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