Mrs. Dixie James, age 88 of Smyrna, passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 13, 2021. A funeral service will be held 2 pm Sunday, October 17, 2021 in the chapel of Carmichael Funeral Home in Smyrna. Interment will be in Whiteville, TN. Born in Memphis in 1933, Dixie grew up as a self-proclaimed “farm girl” in Haywood County, TN. She attended Union University in Jackson, TN before persuading her father to let her enroll at Baylor University in Waco, TX where she graduated with a bachelor degree. It was then that she moved to Atlanta to begin her life and raise a family. Later in life, she was awarded both a masters and a “6 year degree” in Library Science from Georgia State University. She taught at both Griffin Middle School and Campbell High School over her 35 years in Cobb County education. She retired as the media specialist at Griffin where they named the media center in her honor. She spent her evenings as the reference librarian at the newly built Smyrna library. Mrs. James loved her country and was patriotic to the core. She was almost as passionate about cheering on Georgia Tech and the Braves as they took the field. Her strong faith, loyalty and determination underscored everything she was able to achieve in her life. She is survived by her sons Andrew Claiborne (Wendy) James of Palmetto, Jonathan Howse (Kelsey) James of Sandy Springs, brother George Howse of ST Paul, MN, grandchildren Grace Katherine James, Meredith James, Fletcher and Katherine LaCoste, Mary Chandler and Selle James. The family will receive friends from 1-2 pm Sunday, October 17, 2021 at the funeral home. Carmichael Funeral Home in Smyrna is in charge of arrangements. www.carmichaelcares.com 770-435-4467