Homer Briscoe "Jim" Campbell's Obituary
Homer Briscoe “Jim” Campbell, 96, of Newnan, Georgia, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away peacefully Friday, September 20, 2024. He was born in Knoxville, Maryland to the late Homer Theodore Campbell and Agnes Miller Campbell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Joan Gross Campbell, and his siblings, Frances Campbell Morrissey of Frederick, Maryland, and Joseph Lee Campbell of Middletown, Maryland.
Jim was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He had a “sparkle in his eyes” and a kind, generous, and sweet spirit. In-family famous for his storytelling, he enjoyed the simplest of moments and captured them as stories or poems which he generously shared. He was positive and industrious, and led a happy family environment complete with memorable cross-country camping trips and holiday celebrations such as the “Campbell Soup Bowl” on Thanksgiving. He was a dedicated provider, always present and supportive, making sure all had what they needed. He was a steady and constant blessing, and our family’s treasure.
Jim grew up in Knoxville, Maryland and Libertytown, Maryland and was a 1944 graduate of Libertytown High School. As part of the Greatest Generation, he served in the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper from 1946-1948 and proudly acclaimed he had never landed in an airplane until age 29. As a 1950 graduate of Western Maryland College, he started with Sunoco Oil as a full-service station manager in downtown Baltimore before his acceptance into the Sunoco sales training program. In 1958, he was transferred to Port Everglades to work in real estate and site development for Sunoco’s south Florida territory. After 20 years, he stayed local and completed his career with Charles Von Stein, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale in appraisal and property management until his retirement in 1993.
He married Esther Joan Gross of Libertytown and Baltimore, Maryland in 1957, and they quickly relocated to Pompano Beach/Fort Lauderdale where they raised three children and opened their home for countless gatherings of family and friends.
Jim loved cars, and the color red. His first car was a ’39 Plymouth Coupe, and he WON a ’56 Ford (red and black) with a quirky radio jingle. Upon retirement, he bought a ’46 Plymouth convertible (again, red) which he paraded around the neighborhood with grandchildren and friends in tow.
And, he loved sports. Rooting for the Baltimore Colts and Orioles was job one, with room for the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Heat and his children’s college teams later on. He played soccer for Western Maryland College and men’s league softball and basketball in Pompano Beach.
Over the years, Jim was active in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale civic, church, and school communities. He served as President of the Pompano Beach Civitan Club in 1962-1963, and was active with Toastmasters, United Methodist Men of First United Methodist Church of Pompano Beach, and a longtime usher at Christ Church United Methodist of Fort Lauderdale. For his family, he was a Cub Scout Leader, flag football and youth baseball coach, and a tireless supporter of his wife’s and children’s activities from church to marching band to cheerleading to softball to volleyball to football to soccer.
An inurnment service for Jim will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Frederick, Maryland on April 26, 2025 where he will be laid to rest alongside his wife.
Survivors include son, John Campbell and wife Stephanie of Snow Camp, NC; daughters, Lynn Campbell Tinsley and husband Mark of Douglasville, GA, Laren Campbell of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Sarah Lynn Campbell of Snow Camp, NC, James Robert Campbell and partner Rachel Goldfarb of Sunshine, USA, Calvin Graham “Cal” Tinsley of Atlanta, GA, Anna Lane Conner and husband Cole of Atlanta, GA; great-grandchild, Nyx Magnolia Horton-Campbell of Snow Camp, NC; nieces and nephews.
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