Jimmy Wheeler

April 21, 1929 - June 22, 2016

James Oakley “Jimmy“ Wheeler, 87, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at the North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice Unit in Tupelo. He was born, April 21, 1929, in Prentiss County, to James Buel and Ruby Christine Oakley Wheeler. He was a member of Gaston Baptist Church where he sang in the church choir and had served as deacon. Before college, Jimmy served in the U.S. Air Force as a military police sergeant. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in chemistry and embarked on a career with Hunt-Wesson Foods that spanned over 25 years. Jimmy retired from Hunt-Wesson as plant manager for the Savannah, Georgia plant. He relocated back to Booneville to raise Black Angus cattle and served as executive secretary of Prentiss County Cattleman’s Association for many years. He loved to play golf, go hunting with his bird dogs, skeet shooting, and was an avid reader. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 1:00 P.M. in the Booneville Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Matt Brown officiating. Burial will be in Gaston Cemetery. He is survived by his wife Willie Ruth Jennings of Booneville; daughters Myra Wheeler of Booneville and Pam Jordan (Brandt) of Mooresville, NC; grandchildren, Hope Jordan Short of Brooklyn, NY, James Brice Jordan of Washington, DC, and Kelly Jordan of Mooresville, NC; and a sister, Mary Jane Wheeler of Booneville. Pallbearers will be David Moore, Dalton Garner, Don Eubank, Dr. Craig Cleveland, Phil Worley and Doug Jumper. Honorary pallbearers are Willie Hatfield, Harold Williams, Troy Cox, and Dewey Wyman. The family request memorials to be made to Gaston Baptist Church Youth Ministry, 1908 Gaston Road, Booneville, MS 38829. Condolences may be extended to the family at boonevillefuneralhome.net.