James William McIlwain died June 28, 2009 at a Mobile hospital. A native and resident of Tibbie, he was 68 at the time of his death. He was a member of Tibbie Baptist Church and the Washington County Reserve Deputies. Retired from the maintenance department of Ciba Corporation, he was currently employed with the Washington County Sheriff's Department.

Survivors include his wife, Carol McIlwain of Tibbie; two sons, James "Mac" (Christy) McIlwain of Brandon, Miss. and Kenneth Lee McIlwain of Bay Minette; brother, Larry McIlwain of Tibbie; four sisters, Marilyn Parnell and Bonnie Parnell, both of Tibbie, Mary Alice Whiteley of Turnerville and Yvonne Melder of Glenmora, La.; and two grandchildren, McKenzie McIlwain and Madelyn McIlwain, both of Brandon.

Funeral services were July 1 at Tibbie Baptist Church with the Revs. Al Brown, Ernest Tucker, Tim Martin and Dr. Ken Anderson officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery under the direction of Lathan Funeral Home of Chatom.

Pallbearers were Sheriff Richard Stringer and the members of the Washington County Sheriff's Department.