June 7, 2024
James M. Fitts Jr (Jim), age 86, was born on March 7, 1938, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 4, 2024. Jim was born in Nashville to James and Sammye Phillips Fitts, and graduated from David Lipscomb High School with the Class of 56, Tennessee Tech, and the University of Tennessee Medical School. After graduating medical school, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Navy, and served as a 2nd Lieutenant Medical Officer at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu. He then completed his medical residency in Memphis before moving to Columbia and establishing his practice as the first Urologist in Columbia, TN, where he practiced for 40 years while bringing many innovations to Columbia including its first Outpatient Surgery Center and Mobile Lithotripsy Unit. He also served as Chief of Staff at Maury Regional Hospital for 2 terms.
He loved his patients, which was always the favorite part of his profession that he enjoyed so much all of his life. He was a man of many interests including travel, antiques, woodworking, reading, and all things about western history. He always said his favorite trip that he ever took was a weeklong rafting trip down the Grand Canyon with his children, Trey and Katherine. He also greatly enjoyed keeping lifelong friendships with his friends at David Lipscomb High School, enjoying countless lunches in Midtown and various events across the Midstate over the years. They have truly been his friends for life. Jim is predeceased by his Mother, Father, Brother Samuel Phillips Fitts, and the mother of his children, Ann Brown Fitts. He is survived by son Trey Fitts of Murfreesboro; daughter Katherine Fitts Bond and grandchildren Tyler and Tanner Bond of Franklin; sister Nancy Belle Stanley of Knoxville, and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Visitation with the Fitts family will be on Saturday from 10:00 am until the service at 11:30 am in the chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Town Cemetery.