James Wayne Rushing, 70, of Bradenton, Florida passed away October 31, 2024, at Lakewood Ranch Tidewell Palliative Care Hospice. Born and raised on a farm in McNairy County, Tennessee. After graduation from McNairy County Central High School, he attended two years at the University of Tennessee. At the age of 19, he moved to central Florida, worked at the University of Florida Citrus and Research and Education. During this period, he attended part time at Polk Community College at Florida Southern College, completing a BS in 1979. At that time, he began graduate studies at the University of Florida, completing his PhD in 1985 before accepting a faculty position with Clemson University. Then he retired and became Vice-President of Pacific Tomato Co, in Palmetto FL. He later worked for the University of Maryland, Joint Institute for Food Safety (JIFSAN) as Manager of International Food Safety Programs. He was still doing part time international consulting work. His professional activities were extensive and worldwide, he worked in 45 countries.
He enjoyed many outdoor activities such as walking in nature, home landscaping, spending quality time with his family, cooking, grilling, hosting friends and family.
Immediate family: Married in 1991 to Adriana Dinamarca in Santiago, Chile. Adriana was working as executive of the largest fruit export company in Chile. When they moved in 1994 to Charleston, SC, James continued working for Clemson University. James and Adriana maintained a successful consulting business (1994-2005). Then she became and Agriculture and Import Specialist for DHS working in the ports of Charleston and Tampa.
James and Adriana had two children, Michelle (1992), and Michael (1993) both were born in Santiago, Chile. They attended at Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Florida. Michelle completed her BS in Fine Arts at University of Central Florida, and Michael a Business degree at Florida State University. Michael got married to Kala on June 9, 2024, in Flathead Lake, Montana. They have a beautiful daughter, Amelia. Michelle and Jordan got engaged the same week in MT.
James asked for a private and informal memorial for immediate family. His family is doing the Celebration of his Life in Bradenton, FL (November 3, 2024) and Acton Church of Christ in Michie, TN (December 14, 2024 at 2:00PM. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time.)
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) the non-profit organization: https://www.cancerresearch.org/ways-to-give
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