Of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, January 14, 2017. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1928 to Claude and Evelyn Whitehead, Jim spent his early years there. Jim married Martha Ruth Seitz, “Marti,” in 1947. He joined the Marine Corps in his early 20’s and was deployed to South Korea during the war, where he earned the rank of sergeant. After his service in Korea, Jim studied at the University of Georgia. He started his career in Atlanta, working for General Outdoor, a billboard advertising company.  During the next few years he was promoted to their office in Salisbury, Maryland, then again to Asheville, North Carolina, and finally was tapped to head the Washington, DC, branch of the company in 1958. He moved his family to the Washington suburbs where he continued to work for General Outdoor until 1964, when he started his own company, Whitehead Associates. Jim’s business provided outdoor advertising and public relation; he also consulted on political campaigns. Also during these years, Jim became associated with the Miss Universe/Miss USA organization, serving as the senior state director for its affiliate, the Miss Georgia Pageant. He remained involved in these businesses until his retirement in 2001.

Jim was a devoted father and is survived by his three daughters, Linda Sowden, Beverly Fairchild (John) and Sherri Cissel (Al). He was a loving grandfather to his six grandchildren, Tanya and Kristy Sowden, Jamey Fairchild (Mary Jo), and Kelli, Kimberly, and Kyle Cissel; as well as to his two great-granddaughters, Josie and Ada Fairchild. In addition, he is survived by his three younger, brothers, Robert, Lee and William Whitehead. He was predeceased by his older sister, Helen Crawford, and by his wife Marti of 40 years.

Family and friends may gather at Bethesda Country Club, 7601 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817 on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 4 p.m. for a memorial celebrating his life.

Inurnment ceremony, (private), to follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may go to the Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2200 Lake Boulevard NE Atlanta, GA 30319, www.rheumresearch.org.