James Edwin Gillespie

James Edwin Gillespie, 90, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Ridgecrest Nursing Center. He had lived in Jonesboro since 1950, moving here from Pleasant Grove, Mississippi. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and taught the Men’s Adult Sunday School Class. James served his country during WWII as a Seabee throughout the Pacific Theater and was part of the Occupational Force of Japan. He retired as a salesman with the John Morrell Meat Company. James was a member of the Elks Lodge and enjoyed spending time reading, traveling and being with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Fairy Louise Conlee Gillespie; his second wife, Mary Charles Martin Gillespie; son, James Cary Gillespie and a sister Minnie Cora Walters

Survivors include his son, Phillip Gillespie (Elaine) of Jonesboro; daughters, Julia Johnson (Daniel) of Dothan, Alabama; Gail Deen (Wayne) of St. Louis; grandchildren, Jeremy Gillespie, Cameron Gillespie (Ardis), Whitney Kelley (Matt), Eric Deen (Kelly), Anna Deen, Andrew Gillespie, Rachel Gillespie, Ellen Johnson, and Collier Johnson; 5 great grandchildren; daughter in law, Rebetta Gillespie of Jackson, Tennessee; sister in law, Janie Luther of Pototoc, Mississippi; step-sons, Larry Martin (Gayle) and Chuck Martin of Memphis; step-daughters, Jan Quinn (John) of Memphis; Louise Carpenter (Bill) of Kansas City, Missouri;

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, October 22, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro with Bruce Venable officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until service time. Burial will be 3:00 Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Thaxton Cemetery in Thaxton, Mississippi.

For lasting memorials, please consider the First Baptist Church, 701 South Main, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401; or the Fairy Conlee Gillespie Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 1990, State University, Arkansas 72467.To sign an online registry, go to emersonfuneralhome.com