Marion “Sonny” R. James, age 75 of Red Bay, passed away on June 18, 2024 surrounded by his children. He was born in Red Bay, Alabama on April 23, 1949 to the late Everett and Mabel James. Sonny was a graduate of Red Bay High School in 1968 and began junior college at NW Alabama State prior to starting at work as a maintenance supervisor, a career that took him to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Arizona – where he met his late wife, Sue. He continued working through the rest of his life, even into retirement when many joked he could just never sit still. Sonny’s sense of adventure and drive paralleled in his personal life, where he often travelled throughout the United States and Canada hunting big game. Many of his hunts led to amazing stories and great achievements, such as an Alaskan Yukon Moose and Mountain Caribou rewarded in the Boone & Crockett Club and a grand slam on North American deer, amongst many others featured in his home trophy room. Sonny was inducted into the Boone & Crockett Club in 1996, and was a member of his local hunting club, Bear Creek, where he spent many early mornings deer hunting and late nights watching Alabama Football. If you didn’t know him personally, however, you would never know about his avid hobby of hunting, since most conversations were centered around his children, Ariann Rae (27) and Sgt. Jacob Everett (25) — forever his greatest source of pride.
In addition to his parents, Sonny is preceded in death by his wife, Sue James; sister, Doris Jernigan; brother-in-laws, Brack Loden and Andrew Turbyfill.
Sonny is survived by his loving children, Ariann Lane and grandson, Hayden DeJesus, Jacob (Stella) Lane; brothers, Troy (Dawn) James, Foy James; sisters, Brenda Turbyfill, Janice Loden, Mary (Toby) Eastep; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
A private family service will be held at a later date with burial in Burnout Cemetery. Deaton Funeral Home, Red Bay, AL assisted the family.
