Jimmy Grayson Champion was born July 9, 1938 to Grover Cleveland Champion and Margaret Crotts Champion and passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

He graduated from Fallston High School in 1956 and served in the Navy beginning at age 17 in 1956 through 1959. Jimmy was an avid golfer from 2010 and had 10 good years. He enjoyed playing with all of his friends. He also spent may hours reading.

Jimmy better known as "Champ" started working with Fiber Industries in 1960 as an electrician. In 1966 he was promoted to supervisor over all the site's electrical mechanics for thirty-five years when he retired. In this roll, Champ coordinated with engineering, construction and Duke Power to layout the electrical grid as the site continued to expand to over forty acres under roof. In the Early 80's the monthly power bill with Duke was in excess of one million dollars.

As the double knit polyester market and global market changed in the mid 80's, Champ coordinated with engineering to relocate T-30 spinning from Greenville, SC to Shelby. In addition to his daily job, he managed the process of eliminating six million dollars of PCBs from the site. Then in the early 90's, Champ recognized the power of computers and learned how to build programs to manage site electrical systems.

Through the forty-one and a half years he worked af Fiber, (Celanese, Hoechst Celanese, KOSA and later Invista), Champ was someone you could always trust and depend on that the job was going to be done correctly.

He is preceded in death by his parents Grover and Margaret Champion and two brothers Graham and Carol Champion.

He is survived by his wife of forty-one years Dianne Pruett Champion; son, David (Phyllis) Champion; daughter, Laura Tallent; son Fred Champion; grandchildren, Jennifer Tallent, Wesley Tallent, and Heather Ledbetter; sister-in-law, Brenda Champion; and a brother-in-law, Boyd (Ann) Pruett.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 14, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 4:00 pm at Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home Chapel, Fallston with the Dr. Bulo Price officiating.

The burial will follow the service in the Mulls Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery.

Words from Champ " I am wearing my golf shirt so wear whatever is comfortable."

Memorials may be made to Mulls Memorial Baptist Church, 3299 Fallston Road, Shelby, NC 28150.

A guest register is available at www.stameytysingerfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., Fallston, NC.