JAMES EDWARD MCCONNELL, SR., WAS BORN JANUARY 30, 1927 IN ATHENS, ALABAMA, THE FIRST OF TEN CHILDREN BORN TO W.D. AND CORENA LONG MCCONNELL. HE CURRENTLY LIVED IN HALEYVILLE, ALABAMA, AND PASSED AWAY ON MAY 1, 2020 AT UAB-BIRMINGHAM. INJURED IN A FALL SEVEN WEEKS AGO, HE FINALLY SUCCUMBED AFTER A GALLANT FIGHT.
HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS CURRENT WIFE, KATHRYN MCCONNELL, HIS SON, BOBBY MCCONNELL ( DEBBIE ), HIS DAUGHTER, VICKIE MCCONNELL ( JAMES HIGDON) , GRANDCHILDREN: KERI MCCONNELL MCGEHEE ( ANDY ), JAMIE MCCONNELL, CANDI MCCONNELL JONES ( BARRY), SEVEN GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: ANDREW MCGEHEE, JONATHAN MCGEHEE, BROOKE MCGEHEE, JAKE MCCONNELL, HUTTON MCCONNELL, RENLEE MAC JONES, ADLEE JONES. HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY THREE BROTHERS, TWO SISTERS, AND A HOST OF NIECES AND NEPHEWS. PRECEDED IN DEATH WAS HIS FIRST LOVE, VERA MCCONNELL, AFTER A 52 YEAR MARRIAGE.
AS A YOUNG BAREFOOT BOY IN THE 30'S WALKING DOWN A DUSTY COUNTRY ROAD, HE FOUND JESUS AS HIS PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR. WHEN HE BECAME OLD ENOUGH TO JOIN THE ARMY IN WORLD WAR II, HE WAS IN THE FIRST OCCUPATIONAL TROOPS IN JAPAN. UPON ARRIVING BACK IN THE STATES, HE MARRIED HIS SWEETHEART, VERA WIGINTON, AND THREE YEARS LATER BEGAN RAISING A FAMILY AFTER HIS SON, BOBBY, WAS BORN. NOT LONG AFTER, HE BEGAN A TRUCK-DRIVING CAREER. HIS SECOND CHILD, VICKIE, WAS BORN AND SOON THEREAFTER HE SURRENDERED TO THE CALL OF THE MINISTRY. HE CONTINUED TO PREACH GOD'S WORK THROUGHOUT THE REST OF HIS LIFE. HE ALSO BEGAN A DETECTIVE AGENCY IN THE 70'S, THE MCCONNELL NIGHT HAWK DETECTIVE AGENCY. HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF HIS NEW COMPANY. HE ONLY WANTED TO BE IN THE FIELD. HE WAS EXTREMELY TALENTED AND HAD QUITE A KNACK FOR BENG IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. WE WILL MISS YOUR QUICK SMILE AND WARM HANDSHAKE. YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE HAS BECOME OURS, THE 14TH CHAPTER OF JOHN, BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST VERSE, "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED; BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME".
ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KILGORE-GREEN FUNERAL HOME IN JASPER, ALABAMA, WITH BURIAL AT JEFFERSON MEMORIAL GARDENS IN TRUSSVILLE. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE.
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