James Larry Pitts

Larry was born on February 25, 1944 in Dadeville, Alabama to the late Reverend R.L. Pitts and Mary Pitts. He was retired from the Grocery industry in Retail Management, where he worked in establishing, managing and maintaining local grocery stores in the Columbus area. During his life, he was a gifted athlete, becoming State champion in high jump and pole vaulting and an extraordinary basketball and football player.

He loved to sing and loved Gospel Music. He sang with various quartet groups during his life that began with his favorite group to sing with, the Pitts Trio. He was a big, handsome man with an incredible voice, able to hear and sing beautiful intricate harmonies with his sisters or the smoothest bass in a male quartet. He loved spending time with his family and friends. The family spent many weekends on the road in a tour bus, going from one singing engagement to the next. He had the ability to charm an audience of one or of hundreds. He was never at a loss for words, sharp-witted, had a sparkle in his eyes when he was joking and had a charm about him that drew others in his direction intentionally or unintentionally becoming the center of attention in the room. He had a loving family who cared for him and supported him until the end of his life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved James L Pitts.

Survivors include the love of his life; his wife, Edna Pitts, daughters: Cindy Jowers (Ray), April Pitts Smith; son, Alan Pitts (Kim), grandchildren: April Jowers, Charles Jowers, Amanda Long, Justin Pitts, Rachael Pitts, Hannah Smith, Montana Smith, Brianna Smith, Dylan Smith; great grandson, Aiden Pitts; sisters: Linda Barnhill (Gerald), Lisa Fountain (Mark); brother, Rance Pitts (Anne); and numerous other relatives. Other than his parents Larry is also preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn Brand (JW).

Family will visit with friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary. A graveside service will follow in Parkhill Cemetery at 11:00 AM.