He was born in Scotts Hill, Tennessee to Drew and Lennie Kennedy on March 3, 1936.
He was a civil engineer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He was also a previous member of Friendship Assembly of God in Victory, Mississippi and is a current member of Cross Creek Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi.
James is survived by his wife of nine and a half years, Jo Ann; his children, Jimmy Kennedy, Jr. (Eileen), Brian Kennedy (Sue), Sandra Tooms (Rob); and numerous grandchildren; his step children, Judith Ann Watts (Bobby), Leo Stephens (Bonnie), Terry Caldwell; children of Jo Ann, Frank Dawkins Jr. (Sandy), Gary R. Dawkins (Charlotte), Glen A. Dawkins (Chandra), Vivian Cook (Mike); many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
Services will start at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 8 at Cross Creek Baptist Church, 4105 Goodman Rd, Olive Branch, MS.