James R. "Jim" Baxley

James R. “Jim” Baxley, 67, of Socastee, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2026, after a courageous battle against overwhelming health challenges. Born November 5, 1958, in Charleston, South Carolina, Jim was the son of U.S. Air Force TSgt James L. Baxley and Doris Woodberry Baxley. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Debbie Dennis. Jim dedicated much of his life to education, serving Horry County Schools for almost four decades. He began as a Social Studies teacher at Socastee High School, where he taught from 1984 to 1998. He then served as an Assistant Principal at Myrtle Beach High School from 1998 to 2002 and at Carolina Forest High School from 2002 until his retirement in 2017. For Jim, education was about far more than a job. He had a genuine passion for teaching, mentoring, and encouraging both students and colleagues. He touched the lives of thousands of Horry County students. He was equally loved by the educators and support staff he had the privilege of working alongside, many of whom became lifelong friends. Jim loved the Lord, and his faith was an important part of how he lived and served others throughout his life. He was an active member of both Collins Creek Baptist Church and Socastee Baptist Church, where he served in numerous roles over the years. Outside of church and school, Jim was happiest outdoors. He loved fishing, duck hunting, and deer hunting, and few things brought him more joy than catching bream or bass and then giving his catch away to anyone who wanted some fish. He also loved anything that could take him somewhere. Whether it was a boat, motorcycle, truck, camper, jet ski, or four-wheeler, Jim never met a steering wheel or throttle he didn’t like. More than the things themselves, though, he loved the experiences they created and the people he got to share them with. At 42 years old, Jim was diagnosed with leukemia and given a prognosis of just three to five years. Instead, he was blessed with 26 more years. Grounded in his faith, Jim never allowed that diagnosis to define the life he had left to live. He embraced those years fully, loving his family, serving others, making memories, and always finding another adventure along the way. Jim married his high school sweetheart and lifelong love, Lynne Nelms Baxley, on August 4, 1979. They recently celebrated 47 years of marriage and a life built together. In addition to his beloved wife, Lynne, Jim is survived by his son, James B. “Ben” Baxley and his wife, Ashley, of Chapin, South Carolina, and their daughters, Logan, Grier, Isla, and Madison; his daughter, Jessica Pilkington and her husband, Aaron, of Carthage, North Carolina, and their sons, Kirk and Oliver; his sister, Rhonda Ammons and her husband, Rick, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; his brother, Randy Baxley of Hemingway, South Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim leaves behind a legacy that can be found in his family, the generations of students and educators he influenced, the friendships he carried throughout his life, and the countless memories made on the water, in the woods, in classrooms, and wherever the next adventure happened to take him. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, August 20, 2026 at Socastee Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday, August 19th at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. In lieu of flowers, consider donating in memory of Jim to Socastee Baptist Church’s ministry providing school supplies and clothing to local children in need, or simply “take a kid fishing!”

Tributes

James R. "Jim" Baxley

November 5, 1958 - August 17, 2026