Mr. James Junior Metcalf

Shreveport, LA

In the early morning of Friday, January 18, 2013 James Junior Metcalf slipped gently from this earthy life at the Grace Home in Shreveport, La. with his daughter by his side to go to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He anticipated joining loved ones who had preceded him there - especially the love of his life, Mittie Marie Grigson Metcalf, for whom he cared through 13 years of illness...living out their marriage vows: "in sickness or in health...".

A memorial service honoring Mr. Metcalf's 91 years of life will be celebrated on Sunday,

January 20, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Chapel at 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana. The Associate/Senior pastor of Brookwood Baptist Church, Rev. John Harp, will minister. Visitation will be prior to that service from 3:00 p.m. until service time. The Burial will take place on Monday, January 21 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sylverino Church Cemetery in Texarkana, Arkansas.

James Metcalf was born in Ashdown, Arkansas on July 14,1921 and reared there by his parents, James Henry Metcalf and Rose Ella Brown Metcalf, where he played football in high school. James was retired from the United States Navy, a veteran of World War II and a Pearl Harbor survivor. "With the exception of the Suez Canal, I traveled around the world," he said, his ship having docked on both sides of that canal. After his Navy career ended in 1961, James went to work for Day and Zimmerman in Texarkana, Texas as a millwright from where he retired a second time.

He was for many years an active member of Cornerstone Baptist Church (formerly Calvary Baptist) in Texarkana, Arkansas, prior to his move to Shreveport, Louisiana in 2004 to be near his daughter and her family. He then joined Brookwood Baptist Church where he was a member of the Andrew Sunday School Class.

Besides his parents and his wife of 54 years, Mr. Metcalf was predeceased by an infant daughter, Mittie Ann Metcalf, and his only son, James David Metcalf. Three brothers, Henry, Arry and Cecil Metcalf and two sisters, Irene Ash Waggoner and Florence Metcalf also predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter, Marilyn Huber and her husband, Brian. Three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, precious to his heart, survive to cherish his memory and to tell his stories: Jonathan Huber and his wife, Staci, and their children, Haley, David and Paul Huber, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; James Huber of Houston, Texas; and Emily Marie Huber Seale and husband, Matthew, and their daughter, Ella Claire Seale, (and a baby daughter due in the spring), of Bossier City, Louisiana. His dearly beloved sister, Jeraldine Metcalf Fuller, a sister-in-law, Edith Grigson, a brother-in-law, Brosie Grigson, in addition to numerous dear nieces and nephews, survive as well.

The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to the following: Carol Bullock, Martha Cook, and Loraine Lee of Brookwood's homebound ministry, who visited our daddy faithfully during his Shreveport years; The Glen Retirement Center staff and the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home staff, who cared lovingly for him while he lived with them; and the staff of the Grace Home who have made these last days easier for daddy and for our family.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of his Sunday School Class, Asa Curtis' Andrew Class.

Psalms 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."