James Edward “Jamie” Booth died on Oct. 27, 2026, at the age of 97. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Joan; his son Stephen; and his siblings Herschel, William, and Nancy.
He is survived by his son Jeb (Lisa) Booth; his grandchildren Cole and Rylee Booth; his siblings Jerry and Kathryn; and many extended family and friends in Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Alabama and around the world.
Jim was a native of Opelika, Ala. and a graduate of Auburn University. He took great pride in his Alabama roots and returned to Opelika many times throughout his lifetime. At 94, he made one last trip to his childhood stomping grounds to visit his siblings, nieces and nephews, show his grandchildren where he came from, tour the Auburn football stadium field and enjoy a wonderful southern Thanksgiving with many loving family members.
Jim served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, stationed in Morocco and Jacksonville, Fla. After the Navy and his graduation from Auburn, he settled in Washington, D.C., where he met Joan. They were married for 59 years and raised two sons, Stephen and Jeb. After 29 years in Massachusetts, Jim and Joan settled in Alexandria, Va., in 1994.
Jim was an avid history connoisseur, world traveler, and storyteller, but Martha’s Vineyard was the place he always came back to. For more than 40 years, he spent summers there with Joan and their family, and beginning in 1982 they owned a vacation home on Sengekontacket. Together, Jim and Joan traveled the world: on safari in Africa, across the Atlantic on the QE2, to Russia, Egypt, throughout Europe and South America and beyond. Surprising his grandchildren in Ireland was a family favorite. Jim saw more of the world than most people dream of, and he and Joan were known for their warm entertaining, neighborly cocktails and lively stories of their adventures.
Of all the places they went, the Vineyard is the love Jim and Joan passed on. Their son Jeb, his wife Lisa, and grandchildren Cole and Rylee still return to the Island every summer, carrying the tradition forward.
A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held on Martha’s Vineyard, the place Jim loved, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Disabled American Veterans in memory of James Edward Booth.