James Fair Zeigler

James Fair Zeigler passed away on October 17, 2026. He was born in Columbia, SC in 1929 to the late James Garris Zeigler and Evelyn Fair Powell Zeigler. He graduated from Dreher High School and worked in different occupations until landing with Kraft Food Company in 1964. He consistently won awards for sales and set company records. When he left Kraft, he became a founder of Columbia Marking Products, which sold sales supplies to grocery stores and other retail outlets. He was a consummate salesman and said his secret was he just kept talking until somebody bought something.

After high school he entered the Navy Reserves, attended Officer Candidate School, and continued to serve with the Army Reserves and the SC National Guard, eventually retiring as a Lt. Colonel.

In the 1970s, he began buying rental houses and became, in his own words, “a slumlord.” He enjoyed working on his rental houses and being known as a landlord.

He was a Baptist and never stinted on contributions to whichever church he was attending. He said that he never missed money that he gave to the church. He was equally generous with friends, family, and anyone in need.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Garris Powell Zeigler; his first wife and mother of his children, June Holland Zeigler Younts; and his grandson, Mark Alexander Zeigler. He is survived by his daughter, Katie Zeigler Bassett (Burt); his son, William “Bill” Zeigler (Donna); grandson Dean R. Hanwell; granddaughter Noel Seay Senn (Allen) and great-grandchildren Ashley Senn and William Senn. He is also survived by his wife, Eva J. Evans Zeigler, who brought love and joy to him every day, as well as step-children Wanda E. Smith (Eddie) and Guy Evans, Sr.

There will be a private ceremony to inter Mr. Zeigler’s cremains at Greenlawn Cemetery. An informal Celebration of Life will be held at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, South Carolina 29073, officiated by Chaplain Mike Driggers, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Zeigler asked that donations be made to either St. Jude Children’s Hospital (stjude.org) or the charity of one’s choice.