James Elmore Jolley, media executive and philanthropist, of Greenville, SC, died Saturday, February 14, 2015 at his home at The Woodlands, Furman in Greenville.
Born in 1927 in Greenville, SC, Jim was raised on Mills Avenue in Greenville by the late Robert Albert and Rucker Tweedy Jolley.
He graduated from Greenville High School, Class of 1944.
Jim earned a B.S. in Business from The Citadel, Class of 1947. Both he and his brother, Bob Jolley were engaged alumni of The Citadel establishing the Robert A. Jolley, Sr. chair, an endowed chair that the Dean holds in the School of Business, in memory of their father. Jim served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Greenville Citadel Club. In 2014 Jim joined the Citadel School of Business Hall of Fame. He received a Leader of Principle Award that recognized his achievements in business and his contributions to his community.
Jim began his career in broadcasting in 1947 at Textile Broadcasting Company, parent corporation of WMRC AM FM radio. In 1953, he became Treasurer of WFBC AM, FM and television. Upon the organization in 1968 of Multimedia, Inc. he became a Director, serving until 1993. Between 1968 and 1987, Jim served as Vice President and and Treasurer of Multimedia Broadcasting Co., which was a division of Multimedia, Inc. and operated 15 AM, FM, and TV stations in markets across the southeast. A charter member of the Institute for Broadcasting Financial Management, Jim was a graduate of its Management School through the Harvard Business School.
Active in the Greenville community, Jim served on the boards of the United Way, the United Speech and Hearing Services, and the Greenville Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was appointed a Commissioner of the Greenville Museum of Art, serving as Treasurer. He was a member of Earle Street Baptist Church.
Jim was a trustee and founding donor of the Jolley Foundation, established by his parents in 1947. With his brother and sister, and later his nephew and niece, Jim quietly went about his family’s philanthropic work to improve the quality of life for the people of Greenville County, particularly its most vulnerable citizens.
Jim was predeceased by his brother, Robert A. Jolley, Jr. and his sister, Mamie Jolley Bruce.
Surviving are his niece and nephew, Jolley Bruce Christman of Philadelphia, PA and Duff Bruce (Margaret), of Greenville; five grandnephews and nieces, Andrew Christman (Agnieszka), Kate Christman (Dan Amsterdam), Sarah Christman, Mac and Thomas Bruce; and four great grandnephews and nieces.
His family is forever grateful for the loyal and loving care given to him by Jackie Brown. In addition, The Woodlands provided a caring community for him in his later years.
Memorials may be made in his memory to a chosen charity. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Remembrance Mausoleum Chapel of Woodlawn Memorial Park, Greenville, SC.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.thomasmcafee.com.
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