William James "Jim" Duckworth, USN Ret., 70 of Flat Rock passed away at his home on Thursday, November 29, 2018 after a short battle with cancer. Born in Hickory, NC he was a son of the late Sidney Duckworth and Mary Scott. Jim enlisted in the Navy at the age of 19 and his assignments took him to San Diego, Calif., Macon, Georgia and Charleston, SC among others. He served in the Vietnam War and earned his master's degree in IT, before retiring in 1995 with the rank of master chief after 28 years of service. He then moved to Flat Rock in 2001 and taught Computer Science at Blue Ridge Community College. He was a member of East Flat Rock Baptist Church where he also taught Sunday School. Jim was preceded in death by a grandson Cooper O'Brien. Surviving is his wife of 42 years; their children; four great-grandchildren; his brother; his two sisters; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday at East Flat Rock First Baptist Church. Revs. Brent Thomas and Jeff Neeland will officiate. The family will receive friends from 2:00pm until 3:00pm prior to the service in the church. Burial will take place in Milan, Georgia. Memorials may be made to Cooper's Crew c/o Community Foundation of North East Georgia, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097, www.CFNEG.org 770-813-3380.