James Larry Mize

James Larry Mize, age 75 of Smyrna, GA passed away on June 3, 2023.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, June 11, 202023,23 at 2 PM CDT at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens in Birmingham, AL. Viewing will be from 1-2 PM CDT and burial to follow the service.

Larry was born on February 17, 1948. Shortly after graduating high school, he joined the United States Navy where he was stationed mainly in Roda, Spain and Keflavik, Iceland. He married Janice Hughes of Leeds, AL near the end of his service and they moved to Chesapeake, Virginia where Larry was stationed at the time. After serving in the military Larry returned to Alabama with Janice where they started a career and family.

Larry was an amazing father to his two sons. He was always athletic and would spend countless hours shooting hoops with his sons, tossing around the football, teaching them baseball and have a catch with them. He was always eager to take them to Braves games or anything else where they could spend time together. From the time they were little up until the last few days, he was always talking to them from the heart and teaching life lessons. Never one to self-promote, always a trustworthy listener, and constantly focused on others rather than himself, Larry was a truly great man and even better father. He was a consistent, kind, and wise voice in the lives of his children and helped shape them more than he could possibly know.

He retired from AT&T after 25+ years as a DC Power Plant Engineer maintaining communications from Maine to Puerto Rico for both government and civilian lines of communications. He then went to work for "The Railroad" with Norfolk Southern, which seemed less like a job and more like a boyhood dream. He finally retired for the second time to spend time with family and friends.

From the Navy all the way through adulthood Larry was an excellent billiards player and it was a hobby he shared with friends and family. For over a decade he led an amateur pool league team that included his son's and their friends where he not only coached them to become better pool players but also better men. He had a passion for travel where he fostered education and strong family bonds with his two sons during immersive travel across the US, Italy, France, Austria, Spain, and other parts of the world.

Always a doting grandfather, Larry did anything he could to spend time with his grandchildren and loved nothing more than hearing them laugh and have fun. They all loved their "Pops" and wanted to see him all the time.

Larry is survived by his sisters Patricia Washington, Mary Ruth Green, and Jeannie Phillips. His two sons Brian and Matthew Mize, his grandson Carter Mize, and three granddaughters Addison, Avery, and Olivia Mize.

Larry is preceded in death by his father Woodrow Wilson Mize, his mother Clemmie Crane Mize, as well as his brother Woodrow "Woody" Mize.

In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with the spirit of Larry who always supported others, we would ask that you just donate to any charity of your choosing.