The Reverend Doctor James Richard Weldon, Jr.
August 8, 1962 – September 27, 2025

The Reverend Doctor James Richard Weldon, Jr., 63, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on September 27, 2025, after a three-year battle with ALS. He passed peacefully at his home in St. Marys, Georgia, surrounded by his family.

Jim was born on August 8, 1962, in Jacksonville, Florida, to James Richard Weldon, Sr. and Barbara Francis McComb Weldon. A fifth-generation Floridian, he grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Terry Parker High School in 1981. As a teenager, Jim came to know Christ through Young Life, a nondenominational youth ministry program, where he later volunteered and served on staff, helping others encounter the same life-changing faith.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of North Florida in 1986. On June 6, 1987, Jim married the love of his life, Jennifer Kay Petron from North Dakota. He later received a Master of Divinity in 1990 and a Doctor of Ministry in 2000 from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

Throughout his ministry, Jim faithfully served the Lord and His people. He began as an Associate Pastor at Northwood Presbyterian Church for four years in Clearwater, Florida. He then served as Senior Pastor of John Knox Presbyterian Church for eight years in Marietta, Georgia. He felt called to begin a church and became the founding Pastor of Fleming Island Presbyterian Church for thirteen years in Fleming Island, Florida. In his final years of ministry, he served as a Hospice Chaplain in Southeast Georgia, retiring at age 60 following ALS diagnosis.

Jim embraced ALS as his final ministry. Each day, he faithfully shared Bible verses with friends and family—a task that required a great deal of effort, but one he carried out with joy. Despite the daily struggles of his illness, he never lost his humor, his gratitude, or his habit of saying his day was "great." Even at the end, Jim gave one last gift by donating his organs to advance ALS research at Mayo Clinic.

Jim had many hobbies and was an avid outdoorsman who loved surfing, soccer, college football, hunting, fishing, bird watching, and searching for shark teeth along the shore. He was also a skilled handyman, a lover of sweets, and a man of quick wit. Above all, he will be remembered for his deep love for his family, his great sense of humor, and his unwavering devotion to the Lord.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Jennifer Kay Petron Weldon; his children Hannah Jenae Weldon Thiriet (Pierre Thiriet), Kaley Joy Weldon Dean (Nathan Dean), and Jacob Foster Weldon (Brynn Weldon); and his siblings Steve Weldon (Kay Weldon) and Sherrill Fischer (Danny Jenkins). He was preceded in death by his parents, James Richard Weldon, Sr. and Barbara McComb Weldon.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ's Church Camden at 250 Lake Pointe Dr, Kingsland, Georgia 31548.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Compassionate Care ALS (https://bit.ly/JimWeldonCCALS) or ALS United of Georgia (https://bit.ly/JimWeldonALSUnitedofGeorgia) as they have both helped our family and so many others live a better life while battling ALS. An additional way you can send donations are to the following addresses:

Compassionate ALS
PO Box 1052
West Falmouth, MA 02574

ALS United of Georgia
227 Sandy Springs Place, Suite D, Box #304
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Coastal Hospice, Jim's hospice care team (https://bit.ly/JimWeldonCoastalHospice) will also receive donations on his behalf.

To order flowers, you may contact Kings Bay Florist at 912-729-1998