James Mcginnis, Jr.

James E. McGinnis, Jr.


Services for Mr. James E. McGinnis, Jr. will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church with Dr. Raymon Leake officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am at the church. Interment will be at Magnolia Cemetery. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Mr. McGinnis, 87, passed away at home on January 6, 2015 after a long illness. He was born on December 4, 1928 in Meridian and he lived his entire life in his beloved home town. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1946. He was an outstanding football and track athlete, and was awarded the Alex Loeb Trophy as a senior. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1949 with a degree in business, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He served two years in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps during the Korean Conflict. Mr. McGinnis spent 64 years in the wholesale lumber business that his father, J. Earl McGinnis, founded in 1922. He was also the president and founder of McGinnis Distributing Company, a building supply company servicing the local contractor trade, and ran that business for 49 years. He loved the lumber business, and was always quick to give credit for his success to the many loyal employees who had worked with him over the years.
Mr. McGinnis was very active in the community, serving on the boards of many business, civic and philanthropic organizations, including Meridian Community College, Rush Foundation Hospital, Unifirst Savings and Loan, Deposit Guaranty National Bank, Meridian Chamber of Commerce (President 1975), American Red Cross, Salvation Army (Chairman 1969), United Way, Meridian Museum of Art (President 1983), Meridian Redevelopment Authority (Chairman 1978), Junior Achievement, Lauderdale County Heart Association, Meridian Exchange Club (President 1960), Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (President 1979, and received the Silver Beaver Award in 1981), and was King of the Junior Auxiliary Mardi Gras Ball in 1979. Significant lumber industry achievements include President of the Forest Products Wholesalers Association (1969) and President of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (1976). He often commented that the community had been good to our family, and that it was important to give back to it with our time and financial support.
More importantly, Mr. McGinnis was a devoted family man and had a strong and abiding faith in God. He was a faithful husband, a loving and supportive father, and a loyal friend. He was a life- long member of First Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday School Teacher, usher, deacon, finance chairman, and in many other leadership roles. As his health declined and he could not attend church, he always watched the services on television, and was very grateful for that ministry. His inherent qualities of fairness, honesty, integrity, and consistency were an exemplary model for his children and grandchildren, the foundation of his long and happy marriage, the key to his business success, and was sustaining to his many friends, business associates, and all who knew him. The grief of those he leaves behind is made easier by the assurance that he has ascended to heaven where he joins the many family and friends who have passed before him. "Well done, my good and faithful servant".
The family would like to thank his faithful caregivers: Millie Wilkins, Erika Leflore, Juanita Newell, Mary Cobb and Alinda Martin.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 63 years, Virginia Davis McGinnis; children, Virginia (Gina) M. Long (Hank), Carol M. Alexander (Rex), and J. E. (Jim) McGinnis III (Cindy); grandchildren, Henry Long (Alice), Virginia Long, Tommy Kitsmiller, Menton M. DeWeese (Matthew), Davis McGinnis (Karli) and Caroline McGinnis; Brother in law, Larry B. Flood; niece Melissa F. Neyland (Nash) and nephew Lloyd B. Flood (Susan).

Mr. McGinnis was preceded in death by his parents, J. Earl and Louise Parker McGinnis and his sister, Louise M. Flood.

Pallbearers will be Hank Long, Rex Alexander, Henry Long, Tommy Kitsmiller, Davis McGinnis, Nash Neyland, Lloyd Flood, and Scott Hudson.

In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Meridian, 701 26th Avenue, Meridian, MS 39301.

Family and friends may sign the online memorial at jamesfwebb.com

Visitation

1st Baptist Church of Meridian
701 26th Avenue
Meridian, MS  39301
Friday, January 8, 2016
9:30 - 11:00 am

Service

1st Baptist Church of Meridian
26th Street
Meridian, MS  39301
Friday, January 8, 2016
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Magnolia Cemetery
23rd Ave.
Meridian, MS  39301

Memorial Contributions

First Baptist Church of Meridian
701 26th Avenue
Meridian, MS  39301