Doug Latham, 63, sax player, patient teacher

To his high school students, Doug Latham was known as a patient and fair teacher. To jazz lovers in metro Atlanta, he was the saxophone player in Reflections in Jazz, Night Flight and other ensembles.

Mr. Latham, 63, of Decatur, died Oct. 21 at Crawford Long Hospital from complications following surgery to remove a pituitary tumor. The body was cremated. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Grey Rock Chapel of Decatur First United Methodist Church. Cremation Society of Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Latham taught sociology at Briarcliff High School, DeKalb’s Open Campus High School for nontraditional students, Decatur High School and most recently, the private Horizons School.

He loved jazz and made five CDs. After his wife died in 2002, he volunteered with Hospice Atlanta, playing his saxophone for patients every Friday.

“He said if he could no longer blow his horn, he didn’t want to be around,” said his stepson, Michael Glisson of Atlanta.

Other survivors are stepson Jim Glisson, Jr., of Fairfield, Ill.; stepdaughters Deborah Johns of Albany, Ga., and Sandra Gilmore of Atlanta; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.