James Howard Gresham, Sr, age 85, of Florence, Alabama passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024. He was lovingly known as Big Jim, Mr. Jim, Jimmy, The Snake, but his favorite name, Big, was what his grandchildren called him. He was a member of Highland Baptist Church. Mr. Gresham was a 1956 graduate of Coffee High School in Florence, Alabama. He was a member of the Coffee Yellow Jacket football team where he earned his nickname, The Snake, playing quarterback. He was voted Most Versatile in the senior Who’s Who. He married his best friend on June 5, 1957. Their commitment to each other and their family was an inspiration to us all. Jim and Doris went on to have 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed cheering them on at sporting events across the south. He was a lifelong Alabama football fan, and he loved the Atlanta Braves. Mr. Gresham and his brother, George, owned Jimmies Battery Shop. The brothers continued operating the Shop after their father passed away. The company was in business for a total of 73 years. Jimmies Battery moved to Dr. Hicks Boulevard in 1972 and remained in business until their retirement 2007. They were known as an honest, dependable company, and they went above and beyond for their customers. Visitation will be Sunday, February 11, 2024 from 12-2:00 pm at Greenview Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at Greenview Memorial Chapel at 2:00pm. Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Park. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Doris Sue Danley Gresham; his parents James George Gresham and Edith Howard Gresham; his siblings Betty Gresham Patton, Martha Gresham Jones, and George Gresham. Big is survived by his children James Howard Gresham, Jr (Felica), Jeffrey Lee Gresham, and Emily Gresham Taylor (Kin); sister Marguerite Gresham Smith(John D); grandchildren Lauren Gresham McClintock (Ryan), Jason Gresham (Brianna), Vanessa Gresham, Jessica Gresham Reeves (Aaron), Jeffrey Gresham, Collin Taylor, Evan Taylor, Grant Taylor, and Ella Taylor, Andrew Gore; great-grandchildren Weston, Walker, and Aubrie Leigh McClintock, Major and Waylon Gresham, Jack Gresham, and Gus Reeves. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Special thanks for Dr. Lyman Mitchell, the staff of Green Oaks Inn, Southern Care Hospice-Ashley, Kristy, Paris, Emily, and Misty, and Dr. Terry Stubblefield of Florence FUMC.
