James Deck Kennedy

JD was born in Keokuk, Iowa, relocated to Stuart, Iowa, and at the age of 7, he moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa. JD was class president from middle school through high school and lettered in track, basketball and football. He was accepted into the Air Force Academy in 1958 and was graduated Second Lieutenant in 1963. After graduation, he was assigned to Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama for pilot training and sent to two survival schools. In 1964 he married his best friend, Corinne Vizina, and they moved to Smyrna, TN where JD went through C-130 training at Sewart Air Force Base.

From 1964 to 1967 JD flew several C-130 combat operations all over the world, mostly in Vietnam. In 1969 he became the youngest C-130 Instructor Pilot at Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, TN. During his military service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 8 Air Medals, and 2 Commendations. After he was honorably discharged from the Air Force, he and his wife, Corinne, settled down in Middle Tennessee.

JD became a realtor, an auctioneer, a developer, a builder, and a property manager. He was also very active in his community. He was a Past President of the Middle Tennessee Century 21 Brokers Council. He served as the District and the State President of Easter Seals for two years. He was a Mason and Past President of the Smyrna-LaVergne Shrine Club, and an Ambassador. He drove the Shrine bus many times to the burn and orthopedic centers.

JD was a Past President of the Smyrna Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He coordinated 7 international exchange visits of Russians, Koreans and Australians. In return, he flew to Russia and traveled to several cities to visit the delegates in their hometowns.

JD was a Trustee and a Stephen Minister for Trinity United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. He was a Red Cross Volunteer on the Disaster Relief Team. He was on the board for Habitat for Humanity and Domestic Violence. He received the 1992 Heart Award from the State of Tennessee House of Representative for his charity work and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors.

JD served his community in many other ways and was a big supporter of the MTSU Women’s Basketball team.

JD was preceded in death by his father Edward John Kennedy, Jr., his infant daughter Melissa Diane Kennedy, his wife Corinne Vizina Kennedy, his youngest brother Stephen R. Kennedy, and his mother Mary Deck Kennedy.

He is survived by his son Patrick Kennedy and wife Amelia Kennedy, his daughter Kelly Eberhardt, his grandson Alexander Eberhardt, his granddaughter Gabriella “Bella” Eberhardt, his daughter Martha Cobb, granddaughter Haley Parkman Mimms (husband Rhett and his son Lawson), grandson Heath Parkman and wife Ashleigh Parkman, great grandson Carter Parkman, granddaughter Hagan Parkman, his older brother Edward John Kennedy, MD and wife Judith T. Kennedy, his late brother’s wife Mary S. Kennedy, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Memorial Service for JD will be held on December 10, 2022 from 2:00 – 5:00 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2303 Jones Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN. A military service will be held at the Air Force Academy in Colorado at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his honor to your favorite charity or contributions can be made to the JD Kennedy Aerospace Memorial Scholarship Endowment at Middle Tennessee State University. You may do so by mailing a check to MTSU Foundation, Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Checks should be made out to MTSU Foundation and “JD Kennedy Aerospace Memorial Scholarship Endowment” written on the memo line. Gifts my also be given online at www.MTSU.edu/give. Select “Other” under the “Designation” and type in JD Kennedy Aerospace Memorial Scholarship Endowment in the space provided. Thank you for keeping JD’s memory alive by helping enhances the lives of others.