SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – A beloved community member and veteran has died. James Putney Jr. passed away on Sunday at the age of 70. He served as a chaplain on the Chatham County Veterans Council and held the position of commander for Post 500, the first African American Legion in Georgia. In 2023, he was selected as the grand marshal for Savannah's Veterans Day parade. MORE: Meet Savannah’s 2023 Veterans Day Parade grand marshal Putney's life in service started at age 17 when he went through basic training. He spent two decades specializing in information technology. After retiring from the military, he went to work for Chatham County. “I’ve been in the community for a while. I’m not into politics, I’m just into people,” Putney told News 3 in a 2023 interview. He suffered stage 4 emphysema in his later years. "The challenges are real," Putney said in 2023. "Anything worth having is worth fighting for. If I’m going to be true to anybody, I’m going to be true to me.”