James Lee Essary Sr.

James Lee Essary Sr., 58, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, January 20, 2021.  He moved to Jonesboro in 2007 from Memphis, Tennessee.  He was born July 9, 1962 to Charles and Bonnie Knight Essary.  In his younger years he enjoyed participating in drag racing.  He enjoyed building classic cars and even collected miniature calls.  He was also an avid coin collector.  Reading was a hobby and he enjoyed reading works by John Grisham. He worked at Essary Painting and Drywall in Memphis and Jonesboro.  When it came to football teams, the only one that mattered was the Chicago Bears.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Andrea Essary and his parents.

Survivors include his son, James Essary Jr., of Ennis, Texas; Landan Essary of Memphis; Evan Essary of Jonesboro; daughter, Christian Island Essary of Memphis; brothers, Tony Wilbanks of Florida and Mike Essary of Jackson, Tennessee.

Graveside services will be 2:00 Saturday, January 30, 2021, at Pine Log Cemetery under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home. All other services will be private. COVID precautions and mask will be required at the graveside.

For lasting memorials, please consider Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202.  To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.