It is with heavy hearts, grateful hearts, and perhaps a few raised eyebrows that we announce the passing of our dad, Jimmy Washington, who left this world on September 13, 2026. Jimmy was born in 1934, on Black Zion Road in Pontotoc, Mississippi and retired from Action Lane Manufacturing and the North Pontotoc School System.
Daddy was many things to many people. A father. A grandfather. A friend. A storyteller. A character. A professional button-pusher. And, if we’re being completely honest, a little bit of a hot mess. There were the things he did that made us laugh, the things that made us shake our heads, and plenty of moments when we wondered, “OMG Seriously, Daddy?” But somehow, those are the very things we will miss the most.
He lived life on his own terms. He wasn’t always predictable, he wasn’t always organized, and he certainly didn’t always do things the easy way. But he was 100% Daddy, and there was nobody else quite like him. He had opinions—and wasn’t shy about sharing them. He had stories—and somehow, they got better every time he told them. He had a knack for getting himself into situations that the rest of us would have avoided entirely. And he had a way of making ordinary moments into memories. Underneath all the chaos was a man who loved his family in his own unmistakable way. He may not have always said exactly the right thing or done exactly the right thing, but we always knew we were his.
He leaves behind two daughters, Sherry Pilkinton (Mark) and Belinda Hobbs; eight grandchildren, Brett Pilkinton (Emily), Bryan Pilkinton, T.J. Miller (Danielle), Austin Pilkinton, Conner Hobbs, Amber Lee (Jamie), Whitney Bowen (Eddie), and Nicole Day (Ryan); multiple great-grandchildren; sister Faye Hardin (James); brother Glenn Washington; and multiple nieces and nephews, along with a lifetime of stories that will undoubtedly be retold—some of them even accurately.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife, Manda J. Washington; parents, Ottis and Edith Washington; and brother, Jack Washington.
We like to think Daddy has finally found a place where nothing needs fixing, nobody is telling him what he should have done differently, and he can do whatever he wants.
Rest easy, Papa Jim. You were a hot mess… but you were our hot mess. And we wouldn’t trade you for anything!
The Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Tutor Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc with visitation beginning at 12 Noon. Burial will follow in Zion Cemetery.
