James Moore Kirby

James Moore Kirby, 92, of Columbia, died Monday, April 23, 2018. Born in Pacolet Mills, South Carolina on September 20, 1925, Jim was a son of the late William Thornton and Mae Ellis Kirby. Jim grew up in Pacolet Mills, where he was an outstanding baseball player, school bus driver, and ambulance driver. Immediately after graduation from Pacolet High School, Jim enlisted at 17 years of age in the U.S. Army to serve in World War II. He fought in Europe, seeing intense action during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war Jim returned to Spartanburg, attended Gardner Webb College to play football and later transferred to Mercer University. During college Jim became fascinated by the FBI, and he dedicated himself to becoming an FBI Agent. He attended law school at Mercer, then worked for a brief time as an attorney in Spartanburg before being accepted into the FBI. Jim’s career as an FBI Agent would prove to be his proudest achievement, as all his friends well know. During his career Jim worked primarily in New York City, investigating Soviet espionage as well as other high-profile criminal activity. His most famous case involved the arrest of a Soviet spy named Rudolph Abel, whose story was told in the 2015 film Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks. New York was also where he met his bride, the late Charlotte Ogden of Macon, Mississippi. Jim saw Charlotte singing in the church choir, introduced himself as an FBI agent, and married her within the year. Jim and Charlotte had their first son, James Thornton, in New York before they moved back to South Carolina. Shortly after moving back they had their second son, Mark Creswell. Jim and Charlotte raised their boys in Columbia, where he taught law enforcement officers as Deputy Director of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and she worked as a church musician until her death in 1999. Jim’s great passion following his retirement was his service to First Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder Emeritus and Chief Greeter for nearly 30 years. Jim was a beloved storyteller and cheerful friend to many, and he will be missed by his countless friends at First Presbyterian Church and Laurel Crest. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte; a sister, Lois Teaster, and three brothers, Leo Kirby, Pat Kirby, and Joe Kirby. Jim is survived by his two sons, Thornton (Sarah) Kirby of Irmo, South Carolina and Mark (Michelle) Kirby, currently residing in Prague, Czech Republic. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, 3717 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025. The funeral service for Mr. Kirby will be held 3 o’clock, Wednesday, April 25th, at First Presbyterian Church of Columbia with interment in the churchyard. Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas and The Rev. David H. Lauten will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 o’clock Tuesday evening at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. The First Presbyterian Greeters, with whom Jim worked for many years, are invited to serve as honorary pallbearers.

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James Moore Kirby

September 20, 1925 - April 23, 2018