Mr. Jasper Brantley Cleveland (J.B.), 87, of Dalton, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at Hamilton Medical Center.

J.B. was born March 6, 1923, in Coosa County, Ala., to the late Julius Brantley and Alberta Harris Cleveland.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years and the mother of his children, Eva Abernathy Cleveland; brothers, Robert Allen Cleveland and James Harris Cleveland; sisters, Mildred McDonald and Julia Kathryn Childers.

J.B. served his country in the European Theater during World War II. After the war he returned to Sylacauga, Ala., where he began his career in the textile industry. As an employee of Avondale Mills, he learned the dyeing process of textiles. His reputation as an expert in this field traveled to Dalton where the carpet industry was getting into full swing. He took a job with one of the carpet mills as a dyeing technician but soon decided that he wanted to be in business for himself.

He was a partner in several businesses related to the carpet industry and developed special techniques for dyeing and printing carpet.

He loved to travel and sightsee and was able recently to retrace his journey as a soldier through Belgium, France and Germany. He loved gardening and his neighbors and friends loved picking blueberries from his patch of bushes.

J.B. has been involved in many civic activities and has made many worthwhile contributions to the community. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and the First United Methodist Church of Dalton.

J.B. loved people and has enjoyed the association of many friends throughout his life. He enjoyed himself most when he was with his family of whom he was very proud. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn Farmer Cleveland; children and stepchildren, Linda Cleveland Hubbs and Frank Hubbs, Ronald Brantley Cleveland, Nina Cleveland, Tom and Cindy Farmer, Julie Farmer Kirk and Chip Kirk, Lauri Farmer Britton and Tut Britton; grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Bliss and Steven Jones, Carey and Jason Ashcraft, Ansley Cleveland, John Brantley Cleveland, Jordan Coleman, Carter Coleman, Wilson Colman, Jeffery Hall, Elizabeth Kirk, Thomas Farmer III, and Cathryn Farmer; great-grandchildren, Parker Ellen Jones, Eva Lael Ashcraft and Ila Kate Ashcraft; brothers and sister-in-law, Thomas and Margaret Nell Cleveland and Harold Cleveland; sisters, Margaret Cleveland Buzbee and Elizabeth Nail; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Karen and Kenny Brown; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday from the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. R. Michael Cavin Sr. officiating.

Entombment will be in Whitfield Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Love Funeral Home today from 5 to 7 p.m.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.

Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave., Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center), is in charge of arrangements.