James "Jim" Chenault Gunnels Jr.

James C. Gunnels, Jr. – born May 25, 1936, died August 21 2013, at a local hospital. He was a native of Bowling Green, KY and resided in Mobile since 1964. Mr. Gunnels was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Alabama Army National Guard and retired after 26 years of service with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer-2. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church where he was active in the Lifegate Ministry. Mr. Gunnels retired as Claims Director of Equifax services and later as Insruance Agent with American General Life Insurance Company. He was a former member of the Mobile Claims Association and Mobile Life Underwriters Association. Mr. Gunnels was a past Honor Club President of the Civitan Club of Cottage Hill, past Lt. Governor and District Director of the Alabama –West Florida Civitan District, was a recipient of the Foundation Fellow from the Civitan International Research Center, and was an active member of the local Marine Corps League. Jim always looked at life with a smile on his face, and he would say, “none of the above means anything if not pleasing to the Lord.” He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sylvia; daughters, Debbie Pettis of Mobile, AL and Pamela Walker of Newnan, GA; son, James C. Gunnels, III of Florence, AL; 7 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Friday, August 23, 2013, at 10 a.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the service hour. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Christ United Methodist Church Lifegate Ministries, 6101 Grelot Rd., Mobile, AL 36609, in order to help local needy folks. Condolences may be offered at www.mmgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 6040 Three Notch Road, Mobile, Alabama 36619.