Descendants of James Homer Baulch
Generation No. 1
1. JAMES HOMER1 BAULCH (GEORGE NELSONA, WILLIAM NICHOLASB, JOHN R.C BALCH, ?D) was born December 18, 1915 in Gallatin, Sumner Co., TN, and died November 24, 1992 in Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, LA. He married MADIE GIBSON April 13, 1940, daughter of ABNER GIBSON and ROSA LEE. She was born May 14, 1919 in Bond, Stone Co., MS.
Notes for JAMES HOMER BAULCH:
The middle name of Homer came from the man who delivered James into this world, Dr. Homer Reese. Raised and schooled in Tennessee, he spent his grammar school years at the Salem School building where he laughingly claimed he "was the smartest one in the eighth grade ... and the only one!" He attended Spartanburg Textile & Industrial Institute (l.k.a. Spartanburg Junior College), University of Tennessee, and Bowling Green College of Commerce. After graduating from college, he became an instructor and business manager at Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College (l.k.a. Perkinston Junior College), where he met a student, Madie Gibson, who became his wife. He and Madie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where he was a bookkeeper and instructor for Carolina Business College. He later joined his brother, Ernest, as schoolmaster at "Baulch Junior School for Boys" in Park City, Kentucky until 1949. From there they moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky where he was Business Manager for Hopkinsville Lincoln-Mercury and bookkeeper for Hopkinsville Auto Parts until 1958. He was then recruited by Oak Motors of Nashville, Tennessee to be Assistant Business Manager. In 1959 he was recruited by Jim Burke Buick of Birmingham, Alabama to be Business Manager. In 1964 he followed his doctor's advice to find a less stressful job and moved to Slidell, Louisiana to be Business Manager and part owner of John Brown Olds (later Tom Brown Olds-Buick, Del Williams Motors, and Bill Ward Motors), Slidell, Louisiana until his retirement in 1986 (excepting for a brief return to Birmingham, Alabama to help out Jim Burke Buick in 1971).
James Baulch was received into membership of the Salem Methodist Church, north of Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee in October 1929 by his brother, Rev. Ernest F. Baulch. He remained an active member of the United Methodist Church his entire life, holding numerous positions on its boards and committees and taught an Adult Sunday School Class for over 30 years. He was an ardent believer in maintaining a healthy body, engaging in a variety of exercise programs, particularly those centered around running. He won numerous awards for finishing top in his age group for 10K and 5K runs through age 76. Having been raised on a farm, the "farmer blood" never left him. He maintained a vegetable garden wherever he lived and helped his children establish ones for themselves.
Largely due to his active life style, he looked and acted younger than his years. He was admired and respected by his friends and family for his physical, mental, and spiritual strength. He was the epitome of reliability: if he promised he would do something, he did it as committed and did it well. While quite introverted, he was a friend to anyone who needed him, often selflessly sacrificing himself in support of others. Friends and family knew they could count on him.
He and his wife, Madie, lived a beautiful fifty-two years together. They were always committed to each other, to their family, to their church, and to their friends. They were both victims of a tragic car accident (being hit broadside by a one-ton truck that ran through an inoperative red light) in May 1992 and were hospitalized for over a month. With two brain hemorrhages and numerous broken bones, recovery was slow and physical therapy was difficult. Six months later, a massive stroke put him in a deep, irreversible coma. With no hope of a functional life, his family followed his often repeated request if such an occasion arose. He was taken home and removed from life support systems. He died on November 24, 1992, two days before Thanksgiving. It was as he would have liked it: he was at home in his own bed, kept warm by the quilt made by his mother that had been a wedding gift to Madie and him, and surrounded by his family. Madie, all three children, and all their spouses were there, singing hymns from the United Methodist Hymnal. It was during his son Howard's singing of "How Great Thou Art" that he breathed his last breath here on earth. His son-in-law, Floyd Duvall, fittingly read the Twenty-Third Psalm as he joined the angels in heaven.
Originally, Jim was placed in a mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Slidell, Louisiana. After Madie moved to Franklin, Tennessee in September 1997, he was moved to his final burial place in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, near his parents and his brother, Nelson Howard Baulch.
More About JAMES HOMER BAULCH:
Burial: 1997, Woodlawn Memorial Park, Nashville, TN
HS Education: Raised and schooled in Gallatin, TN
Religion: Methodist
Notes for MADIE GIBSON:
Madie was given the name Maybell at birth, but her sister, Mittie Ruth, could never pronounce it right and called her Madie. Eventually she legally changed her name to Madie and dropped any reference to Maybell. She was raised in Bond, Mississippi and attended Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College (later known as Perkinston Junior College).
The following is her wedding announcement contained in a local newspaper:
"Mr. Abner Gibson announces the marriage of his daughter Miss Madie Gibson to Mr. James H. Baulch, son of Mr. G. N. Baulch of Gallatin, Tenn. The groom is a graduate of Bowling Green Commercial Law School of Bowling Green, Kentucky and has been bookkeeping instructor and business manager at Perkinston Junior Colege (sic) for two years when he resigned to take a position in Tennessee. The bride is a graduate of Perkinston High School. The young couple left as soon as his work was completed at the Junior College. They will be at his home in Gallatin, Tenn."
Madie was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children and thirteen grandchildren. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church, having held numerous positions on church boards and committees. One of her greatest gifts is her contributions to the Altar Guild and, more directly, the talent she has with the flower arrangements for the church services. When Jim entered semi-retirement, they enjoyed travels to West Germany, Austria, England, Canada, and Brazil. Life was difficult for Madie after Jim died in November 1992. In September 1997 she moved from Slidell, Louisiana to Morningside Assisted Living in Franklin, Tennessee.
More About MADIE GIBSON:
Religion: Aft. 1940, Methodist
Children of JAMES BAULCH and MADIE GIBSON are:
i. BARBARA ANNE2 BAULCH, b. June 20, 1941, Charlotte, Mecklenberg Co., NC; m. FLOYD RAYMOND DUVALL, June 08, 1958, First Methodist Church, Hopkinsville, Christian Co., KY; b. December 17, 1939, Dawson Springs, KY.
ii. SARAH LEE BAULCH, b. August 26, 1948, Glasgow, Barren Co., KY; m. JAMES HENRY MCGINLEY, December 01, 1973, First United Methodist Church, Slidell, St. Tammany, LA; b. July 15, 1949, Clinton, TN.
iii. HOWARD STONE BAULCH, b. March 15, 1953, Hopkinsville, Christian Co., KY; m. SALLY CAROL BATEMAN, June 17, 1978, First United Methodist Church, Corpus Christi, TX; b. December 18, 1954, Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., TX.