Former Phil Campbell mayor dies at age 91

By Staff
Jason Houston Acting Publisher
James Monroe "Jim" Oliver, who formerly served three terms as mayor of Phil Campbell, died Thursday at Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville. He was 91.
Oliver also served as a deacon in the Phil Campbell First Baptist Church and was a member of the Lions Club and Masonic Lodge.
Alice Vandiver, the former Phil Campbell City Clerk who worked with Oliver for two terms, said he always had the good of the city at heart.
"It was a pleasure to work with him," she said. "He was good to me and good to everyone. I appreciated him so much. We had a good working relationship."
Oliver was known for his work to help begin Northwest-Shoals Community College.
Henry Pace, who served as a fellow deacon and served on the city council under Oliver's leadership, called him a "great individual who was easy to work for."
Another former mayor of the city, Freida Eubank, said she had fond memories of Oliver as a friend of the family.
"I always thought of Jim as a very fine person," Eubank said. "I have the utmost respect for him and his whole family."
Oliver also served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
His funeral is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home in Haleyville. Interment will be in Franklin Memory Gardens.