James Woodfin

Graveside services for Mr. James Bennett “Jimmy” Woodfin will be held Thursday at 1:30 pm at Cedarlawn Cemetery in Scooba, MS. Rev. Chris Gully will officiate. Stephens Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Mr. Woodfin was born January 15, 1942 in Macon, MS. He graduated high school in 1960 playing football throughout high school, East MS Junior College and Mississippi State. Following college, he worked four years with Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon until he was accepted by the Mississippi Highway Patrol as part of MHP Cadet Class #22, graduating on April 26, 1968. Upon graduation, he was stationed in Bay St. Louis where he was witness to the destruction of hurricane Camille.

Later he was transferred to the Jackson area and was named Assistant Director of MHP Air Operations where he flew single and multi-engine helicopters. During the last four years of his MHP career, he was assigned to Meridian Troop H as Assistant Inspector, H2 with the rank of Master Sergeant. Mr. Woodfin retired from MHP in 1992.

After his retirement, he accepted the position as Chief of Police in DeKalb and remained there until 1994.

Mr. Woodfin was an avid hunter and fisherman who truly loved the outdoors.

Along with his wife, they were blessed to adopt many stray animals through the years.

He was a master mason with the Bay St. Louis lodge and a member of Scooba United Methodist Church.

Mr. Woodfin is survived by his wife Rachel Woodfin; children Jay Woodfin and wife Libby, Kim Berry, Leigh Ann Miller; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren with one great grandchild on the way.

He is also survived by his sister Doris Woodfin.

Mr. Woodfin was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Mamie Woodfin; brother Tommy Woodfin; brother in law Bobby Pearson and brother and sister in law Joe and Louise Golden.

Pallbearers will be Matt Miller, Jake Miller, Seth Woodfin, Gabe Woodfin, Tyson Clay and Jason Thomas. Honorary pallbearers will be Alan Henley, Eddie Al Sparkman, Buddy Buchanan and Tommy Howard.

Words cannot express the gratitude we have for his daughter in law Libby Woodfin and his niece Mary Vaughn, both career medical professionals who facilitated dad in his last hours, with the greatest of care and compassion as he went to be with his parents, his brother and his Heavenly Father.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Scooba United Methodist Church or the Wounded Warriors Project.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 11am to 1pm at the funeral home in DeKalb.

Friends may sign the online register at www.stephensfunerals.com.