About Dr. & Mrs. Temple

James Pitts Temple, Sr. was born on June 28, 1927 in Sylacauga, AL and had three brothers and five sisters. Young Temple met Alice Fay Shepherd born July 7, 1923, who was an identical twin, from Camp Hill, AL. The two married on June 22, 1947 after his return from his service in the Army Air Force during World War II.

Having grown up as an Alabama fan, young Temple enrolled at Howard College in Birmingham, now known as Samford University, for two semesters prior to being drafted. He served his country in the Air Force Weather Service. Upon returning from the war, Temple attended one semester at Howard College before transferring to Alabama Polytechnic Institute's School of Pharmacy while his wife worked for Alabama Power. Temple graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1950 and James and Fay moved to Montgomery, Alabama where he worked as a pharmacist. During this time, he decided he was interested in furthering his career to go to medical school and woke up his wife Fay at 3 in the morning to share his desire to be a physician and she said, “Okay, lets get things going.” At this time Temple enrolled at Huntington College in Montgomery to take additional classes to further his education. Only one quarter away from having a master’s in mathematics, Temple was accepted into several medical schools and chose the Medical College of Alabama, what is now the University of Alabama at Birmingham. James and Fay immediately moved to Birmingham where she worked while he attended medical school. As a medical doctor, Dr. Temple completed his residency at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham and in 1960 moved to Alexander City, AL to set up a private practice, Temple Medical Clinic.

Over the course of Dr. Temple’s career, he was on staff at Russell Medical Center, Brown’s Nursing Home, Adam’s Nursing Home, Chapman’s Nursing Home and other facilities. For many years, Dr. Temple made in home medical calls, delivered babies and was a general surgeon. In the mid 1990s, Dr. Temple welcomed Dr. Timothy Corbin as a partner and later on Dr. Vincent Law. Dr. Temple said bringing these two doctors onboard as partners was the best business decision he ever made. Today, Dr. Temple’s legacy as a medical doctor continues through the work of Dr. Corbin, Dr. Law and their medical staff at Temple Medical Clinic. Before his death in 2022, Dr. Temple practiced medicine for 62 years and was recognized as the oldest active pharmacist and oldest practicing physician in the State of Alabama.

Dr. and Mrs. Temple regularly attended Alexander City Methodist Church. Dr. Temple was an active member of the Alexander City Civitan Club and as well as the Tallapoosa County Auburn Club. Professionally, he was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, and the Tallapoosa County Medical Society. Dr. and Mrs. Temple were season ticket holders to Auburn football, baseball and basketball events. Dr. Temple loved his Auburn Tigers and supported his Alma Mater throughout his entire life.

Dr. and Mrs. Temple of Dadeville, AL were married for 65 years until her death on January 17, 2013. Dr. Temple semi-retired from Temple Medical Clinic in September 2021 but continued administering state disabilities until his death on June 7, 2022. Dr. and Mrs. Temple were survived by two children, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.