He was born to the late Sidney and Gladys Hartsfield on July 13th, 1945 in Richmond, Virginia. Jim was a music virtuoso and over the years played piano, saxophone, and the guitar. He formed at least four bands in his younger years, the last one in the 60’s was “Jim Hartsfield and the Futures”. They put out a single 45 named “Alice”. It sold well in the Jackson, Mississippi area.
Upon retirement in 2012, Jim and his wife Sandra, started a small on-line business which featured some home décor items and jewelry which they made, then added vintage items. He always said that, “It was a lot better than sitting on the front porch in a rocker”.
Jim was proud of his Southern heritage and of being a descendant of Ty Cobb, the baseball legend. Jim loved his country and had great respect for the freedoms that we are all so very fortunate to have inherited.
He served in the United State Army National Guard for 6 years in Jackson, Mississippi. He worked in sales at US Steel, US Steel Supply, Ryerson Steel, and River City Steel. He was a faithful member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. He was proud to serve with Sandra as Eucharist Minsters and visiting the sick in the early 80’s.
Jim is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandra Hartsfield; his daughter Cecelia Goulet (John); his sister, Doris Adams; brother, M. L. Smith (Nancy); sister in law, Connie Doggette; and his nieces and nephews, Christina Krauss, Griffin Smith, Scott Doggette, Ellen Doggette, and Lindsay Doggette.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Tennessee Special Olympics.
Family will receive friends from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, February 11th, at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd, Bartlett, TN. Services will be at 2:00pm on Friday, February 12th at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd, Bartlett, TN. Services will be live streamed through the funeral home’s Facebook page for those that want to attend virtually.
