James Julian “JJ” Christman, 81, of Athens, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 at Starr Regional Medical Center. He was a native of Arlington, Virginia and was a son of the late Julian H. and Catherine Just Christman. He was preceded in death by a brother, Johnny Christman.
JJ grew up in Arlington, VA and then Hollywood, MD where his father served in the US Navy and as a hospital administrator in Leonardtown, MD. He attended Great Mills High School in Lexington Park, MD and joined the U.S. Army in 1953 serving until 1956. He served overseas in Korea during the Korean war. After the Army he attended Howard Payne Baptist College in Brownsville, TX, where he was called into the ministry and was licensed to preach. He began training for the mission field with New Tribes Mission in Sanford, FL in 1967 and met Betty during this time. He and Betty were married in 1968 and relocated to Athens, TN. He was ordained as a minister at Fairview Baptist Church in 1969. He served as the minister of music at Central Baptist Church from 1974 – 1980 and as pastor of Westview Baptist Church from 1981 – 1985. He is currently a member of First Baptist Church where he served as deacon from 1998 – 2006. He was chaplain of National Healthcare – Athens and Morning Pointe Assisted living from 2005 – 2012.He was a Bi-vocational minister and owned/operated Consolidated Ice Company from 1970 – 1977. He owned and operated Appliance Service Company from 1985 – 2012.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Betty Benson Christman of Athens; one daughter, Dana Christman Chumbler of Chattanooga; two sons, David (Katherine) Christman of Atlanta, GA and Daniel (Carol) Christman of Kennesaw, GA; two granddaughters, Jillian Starr Chumbler and Mallary Christman; two grandsons, Harrison Christman and Britton Christman; and one brother, Charles (Joyce) Christman of
Hollywood, MD.
A funeral service will be conducted, 7:00 pm, Saturday, July 28th, 2018 at First Baptist Church with Dan Early officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00-6:20 pm, Saturday at the church prior to the service. The committal service will be 1:00 pm, Sunday, July 29th, 2018 at Cedar Grove Cemetery with Military Honors at the graveside by the U.S. Army and McMInn County Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 305 Ingleside Avenue, Athens, TN 37303.

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