James R. Hogan, Sr. (Jim), 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 8th, 2024, surrounded by his children. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Jim was a graduate of West End High School and attended the University of Montevallo. In March of 1963, he married his wife of 54 years, Diane Moats. Together, they raised three children. Jim began his career as a district sales manager with Southern Airways. During his tenure with the airlines, he acted as the company representative to the families following the plane crash which took the lives of the Marshall University football team. He also was a company representative who traveled to the various SEC schools with the local sportswriters, as a part of the Skywriters tour. In the mid 1980’s he chose to make a career change and began work with Trammell Equipment Company, Inc. as a material handling specialist. He continued with this company until his retirement in the early 2000’s. As the son of a Jefferson County Chief Deputy Sheriff, Jim always had a fascination with all types of firearms. In the late 2010’s, he obtained his federal firearms license and began his own business, DJC Firearms, LLC. A business which brought him much happiness following the death of his wife in 2017. Reluctantly, he shut down his business in November of 2023 due to failing health. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Jim was a part of the coaching staff of the Cahaba Heights Black Knights and the Gresham Jr. High School football teams. As an avid Alabama football fan, he never missed a game on tv, often recording them to watch over and over. But, more than anything Jim loved the Lord and his family. He was a deacon at both Liberty Baptist Church and North Shelby Baptist Church. He loved to share his faith with anyone he met. He never met a stranger. Jim loved his family. His title as “MeDaddy” spanned over three decades and included ten grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Moats Hogan, Birmingham; His parents Wilton H. Hogan, Sr. and Willie Mae Brown Hogan, Birmingham; and his brother, Wilton H. Hogan, Jr., Birmingham. He is survived by his children, Dana H. Byers (Mark), James R. Hogan, Jr. (Amy), and Caryn H. Longshore (Trey); brother-in-law, Michael L. Moats (Lisa); and grandchildren, Sarah B. Wood (John), Mark D. Byers, Jr. (Brook), Kathryn B. Thomas (Jackson), Anna G. Byers, and Jacob H. Byers (Alexis), Matthew B. Hogan, Joshua A. Hogan, Eleanor F. Hogan, Eliza D. Nabors, Emily M. Nabors, and great-grandchildren, John Caleb, Charlotte, William, Neeley, Caroline, Hannah, Olivia, Amelia, Luke, Robert, Bo, and James.
Lastly, we would like to express our extreme gratitude to the nurses and staff of Compassus Inpatient Hospice Care. Their faithful devotion to the care and needs of their patients is truly a calling and a personal ministry beyond compare.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home with visitation from 1 -2 pm. Service to follow at 2 p.m. with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
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