James E. Young, the longtime president and chief executive of Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta, died on Monday after a brief battle with cancer. He was 62.
Young became the president and CEO of the $397 million-asset Citizens Trust, a unit of Citizens Bancshares Corp., in February 1998 after it acquired First Southern Bank in Lithonia, Ga. He had served in these roles at First Southern since 1993.
In January, he took a leave of absence from Citizens Trust because of his illness, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday.
A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Young was also a board member of the National Bankers Association, the Atlanta Action Forum, Central Atlanta Progress, the Commerce Club and Rock-Tenn Co. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Young, and four children.
"The passing of Mr. Young has left us deeply saddened. He will be tremendously missed but not forgotten," Cynthia N. Day, the newly appointed president and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank, said in a news release on Monday. "Mr. Young has left a lasting impact on us all with his wisdom, his character and his ability to inspire others. We will continue to honor him and the legacy he has left."
