James (Jimmy) Wesley Holley

James Wesley (Jimmy) Holley, 63, of Shuqualak, MS passed away at his farm on Tuesday, July 12, 2016. His funeral service will be held on Friday, July 15 at 11:00 A.M. from Cooksville United Methodist Church with Bro. Glenn Miller and Bro. Gerald Butler officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon and Friday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Memorials are requested to be made to Cooksville United Methodist Church % Peggy Simmons 325 Paulette Rd. Macon,. MS 39341. Please specify that the memorial is in memory of Jimmy Holley. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon, MS is entrusted with the service arrangements.

Jimmy Holley was born on August 10, 1952 in Macon to the late James W. and Mattie Flora Holley and lived his entire life in Noxubee County. He was a graduate of Noxubee County High School. He entered the U.S. Army and served 2 years in active service and two years in the Reserve. During his stint of active service he was stationed in Germany for eighteen months. After he returned home, he married Betsy Watt on July 19, 1974 and began working for Shuqualak Lumber Company. Jimmy remained with the company for 27 years until suffering a stroke. After having the stroke, his courage and determination in finding new ways to do things was an inspiration to all who knew him. After recovering somewhat from his stroke, he worked an additional five years part time at Shuqualak Lumber Co. as well as attending East Mississippi Community College, where he pursued a degree in drafting and design. He began working at Trailboss Trailers in Macon about two years ago as a draftsman. Jimmy attended Cooksville United Methodist Church.
Jimmy was also involved in farming and cattle ranching. Jimmy was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was a true friend to all who met him. He was an accomplished outdoorsman and hunter who didn’t let the effects of his stroke stop him from hunting. He especially enjoyed turkey hunting and was very successful at it. He was also an accomplished storyteller who could entrance his listeners and transport them into his tale. At the end of the day, Jimmy would say: “Let me tell you what happened today….” and off into another tale he would go.

Those left to mourn his passing are his wife , Betsy Watt Holley of Shuqualak, MS; daughter, Felicia and husband Michael Patterson; a son, John Holley and wife Shannon of Fayetteville, AR; sister, Susan Stokes and husband Mickey of Brooksville, MS; 5 grandchildren: Haden Brooks Patterson, Joseph Hardy Patterson, Ashlyn Holley Dinsmore, Ella Marie Holley and Emma Claire Patterson: a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents.