James Earl Hubbert, 86, of Jasper, Alabama passed away March 9, 2025, at his home. James was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Maxine Hubbert, and his sister, Shelby Jean Killingsworth and husband Joel, all of Fayette, Alabama. He is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 62 years, Billie Ruth Moore Hubbert, and his sons Tracy Hubbert of Alexander City, Alabama, and Clay Hubbert of Jasper. Other survivors include two brothers, Macky Hubbert (Barbara), and Larry Hubbert (Libby), all of Fayette, Alabama. More survivors include four granddaughters, Katie Hubbert of Jasper, Lauran Mowery (Tommy) of Senoia, Georgia, Kristin Hubbert of Jasper, and Blair Dubon (Byron) of Griffin, Georgia. PawPaw James is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren: Maddie Stringer, Jaylee Powers, Kenna Hubbert, JP Powers, Mason Mowery, Clayton Mowery, Mene Dubon, Julian Dubon, Tanner McMillion, Lylah Hubbert, and three step-grandchildren Aiden, Aaron, and Anthony Dubon.
James was born on August 20, 1938, in Fayette County, Alabama. He attended Fayette County High School where he was a three-sport athlete. He earned All-State and All-American honors in football and was selected Offensive MVP as a participant in the AHSAA all-star game as a senior in 1956. He attended Itawamba Junior College in Fulton, Mississippi, for two years and again made All-American and played in the juco all-star game. He finished his college education at Delta State College in Cleveland, Mississippi, and played two more years of intercollegiate football. He is still in the DSC record books for a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Statesmen’s first ever bowl game in 1960. James received his undergraduate degree in physical education from DSC and later earned master’s and educational specialist (AA) degrees at the University of Montevallo.
Coach Hubbert coached at Millport High School (AL), Brooksville High School (FL), and Kennedy High School (AL) for four years before becoming the head football coach at Curry High School in Jasper in 1965. He spent 30 years at Curry High- ten as football coach, sixteen and a half as assistant principal, and the last three and a half as principal. The football field at CHS was named in his honor in 2022. In addition, he is a member of both the Fayette and Walker County Sports Halls of Fame for his playing and coaching careers.
After retirement in 1994, James enjoyed working on his farm in Fayette County, playing golf and working out some, and attending his grandkids’ many athletic events. He and Billie developed lasting friendships with several Amish families in Tennessee. In 2009 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. For the past 28 months he was under the care of Aveanna Hospice’s compassionate staff.
Kilgore-Green Funeral Home of Jasper is in charge of final arrangements. Services will be Friday, March 14, 2025, at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Curry. Pastor Josh Mayes and Reverend Johnny Frazier will preside. Public visitation is from ten a.m. until noon, with funeral services to follow. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon’s Curry Number 2 Cemetery adjacent to the church. Active pallbearers are nephews Kevin, Kim, Keith, and Carl Killingsworth, Allen and Carson Hubbert, Luke Rushing, and nieces Gena Rushing and
Amanda Starr. Honorary pallbearers are any of Coach Hubbert’s former athletes and cheerleaders from his years at Curry High School. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association,The Parkinson’s Foundation or a charity meaningful to you.
