James Bruce Whitehead, 85, of Anderson, died Friday at his residence.
Services will be 3 p.m. today at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Rogersville, with Pat Driskell officiating. Burial will be in Civitan Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until service at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church today.
Mr. Whitehead was born July 10, 1930, in Lauderdale County. He was a member and elder of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Rogersville, a member of the Masonic Lodge 147 of Rogersville and a member of IBEW 558 of Sheffield. He was Daddy to his daughters, Boon to his granddaughters and great-grandchildren, J.B. to his friends and coworkers, and the love of his wife’s life. His friends and family loved him and will remember him as the honest, honorable Christian man that they all knew him to be.
James Bruce graduated from Lauderdale County High School in 1948. He served during the Korean War in 1951 and ’52. He also served in the apprentice program with TVA and worked at Reynolds Metals Company for over 33 years. James Bruce enjoyed watching Braves baseball, SEC football and basketball, and also enjoyed going to Lauderdale County girls and boys basketball games. He enjoyed working on the crossword puzzle in the paper every day.
He was preceded in death by parents, Jesse Thurston and Clara Dean Whitehead; sisters, Sandra Whitehead, Dassah Sims, Sybil Blankenship, Hildred Jones, Mildred Finley and Lala Bedingfield; and brothers, JT and Gerald Whitehead.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wynell Griffin Whitehead; daughters, Karen Cantrell and husband, Billy Ray, and Kathy Ezell; granddaughters, Kerri McKelvey and husband, Kenny, and Erin Barker and husband, Kyle; great-grandchildren, Zara, Xanthe and Rigel McKelvey; sisters, Emogene Hyatt and Barbara Lankford and husband, Milton; sister-in-law, Faye Whitehead; brother-in-law, Hubert Bedingfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Gerald Belue, James Godsey, Jerry Paul Butler, David Barr, Rennie Belue, Michael Nash, Michael Cosby and Mark Butler.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ishmael Perry, Bayless Thornton, Hubert Bedingfield, Elston Thornton, Travis Butler and members of the Fooks Sunday School Class.
The family would like to thank Dr. Danny McFall and Hospice of the Shoals for their wonderful care and kindness. They would also like to give a special thanks to Brother Pat Driskell and their First CP church family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Solas-Walk With Me Foundation (walkwithmefoundation.org, Walk With Me Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 2691 Florence, Alabama 35630), First CP Church Relay for Life team or any charity that helps students or children.
Spry Funeral Home, Athens, directing.
