James Martin Snowden

James Martin Snowden was born at home in Battlefield MS to Duluth & Sallie Tucker Snowden on April 3, 1920. Preceeded in death by his parents & siblings Lamar (Chrystine) Snowden, Margaret (Bob) Tough, Bernice Ruth (Richard) Lea. Surviving siblingsare Norman (Sarah) Snowden, Charlotte (LN) Rhodes.

He was raised in Collinsville MS. After graduation from Collinsville High School 1938 he attended Bowling Green Business School in KY. In 1941, just prior to WWII he joined the Army Air Corp. Most of his service was spent in the Panama Canal Zone & on special detail in Peru. He completed his tour of duty at Will Rodgers Field in Oklahoma City where he met Edna Jo Hirril. They married in 1946 in Loveland CO.

Bringing his bride to live in Collinsville, they operated the store until he felt God's call to preach the Gospel of Christ. They were baptized in Perkins' Pond as he surrendered to the ministry in 1950.

After graduating from MS College with a BA degree in Bible, they accepted their first church, Lake Washington Baptist Church, in Glen Alan MS where they welcomed Nancy into their lives.

From Glen Alan they moved back to East MS to the Martin area in Collinsville to pastor Pine Grove Baptist Church. During this pastorate he went to the New Orleans Baptist Theology Seminary.

When they left Martin, they pastored Concord Baptist Church for 3 years in Macon MS before returning to Collinsville to pastor the First Baptist Church for 18 years. His last pastorate before retiring was Bay Springs Baptist Church in Porterville MS. He retired in 1986, after 35 years of pastoral service, moving back to the family home in Collinsville.

He afilliated with Mission Service Corps as a consultant & was interim pastor at Union Baptist Church in Kemper County as his last church.

Over his career he pastored 7 churches plus many interim & supply minister opportunities. He enjoyed fishing & golf.

They celebrated their 56th anniversary before Edna Jo went to be with the Lord in 2002. He married Edith Lindley of Macon in 2005. They were members of Concord Baptist Church. They moved to an assisted living cottage in Priceville Alabama until he walked into the hands of Jesus on November 22, 2015.

In addition to his wife he is survived by a daughter: Nancy (Gary) Langley of Collinsville, MS; step-son, Oscar E. (Gene) Lindley of Decatur, AL; siblings, Charlotte (Dr. L.N.) Rhodes ; brother, Norman D Snowden; 2 grandchildren Gary L. “Skip “ and James D. “Dusty” Langley and 2 step grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren. Alex and Sassy and 3 step great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church Collinsville with Rev. David Seller, Rev. Hal Bates, & Rev. Wade Ricks officiating. Interment will be in Collinsville Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Cockrell Funeral Home is in charge of the service.
www.cockrellfuneralhome.com .