JIMMY HOWARD PEAVY
Feb. 27, 1951 – Aug. 26, 2021
Mr. Jimmy Howard Peavy, 70, a resident of Georgiana, died on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with Rev. Danny Dean and Rev. Mark Lovett officiating and Dunklin Funeral Home directing. Burial followed at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation was held at Dunklin Funeral Home on Saturday evening from 5 – 7 p.m.
Jimmy H. Peavy was born Feb. 27, 1951 to Mrs. Sarah Peavy and the late Harold W. Peavy in the farming community of Industry, Alabama. He and his brothers Billy and Jerrald grew up working on the family farm. He attended Industry School until he went to Georgiana High School where in the 12th grade he began working part-time after school until 11 p.m. at Union Camp until graduation in 1969, then full time until he was drafted to serve in the US Army.
Before deploying to serve in the Vietnam War, he married Belle Green, whom he met at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church where they remained as life-long members. Upon return from Vietnam, Jimmy, Belle, and their children Pam and Joey moved to Manhattan, Kansas, to finish out his Army service. The family returned to Industry, Alabama in 1973 and had a daughter Jackie. The family moved to Jimmy and Belle’s current home in 1975.
Jimmy began working with the former Southern Railway in 1976 as a crane operator for the engineering division of the railroad. This job required him to work away from home during the week. A sacrifice he lovingly made for the betterment of his family for 35 years.
He was widely known as one of the best crane operators in the southeastern railroad division where he worked until retirement in 2011 from now Norfolk Southern Railway. Jimmy was proud of his work building bridges in Alabama, Mississippi, and parts of Louisiana.
His name is listed on a monument at the bridge over Lake Pontchartrain in recognition for his part in constructing the longest train bridge in the United States. He was particularly proud of this accomplishment because he worked alongside his son Joey, who was also, and remains, employed with Norfork Southern.
During his tenure with the railroad, Jimmy and Belle also owned and operated Camilla Lanes Bowling Alley in Greenville, where they both became accomplished bowlers and made many lifelong friends. In addition to the bowling alley they later ran a county store in the Friendship community. Through these endeavors they modeled a strong work ethic and determination to their children, demonstrating generosity and compassion to the community as they lived out their Christian beliefs.
After retiring, he and Belle, enjoyed traveling with friends to various points of interest throughout the U.S. He began bowling again, gardening, doing backhoe work for neighbors, going to his grandchildren’s various school, community, and church events. He was affectionately known as “Papa, the Man, the Myth, the Legend” by his grandchildren.
Jimmy was also an avid domino player, competitive fisherman, a collector of treasures from the local auctions, and loved a good prank. He was the quintessential handyman and all around good neighbor. He has been described by many as a “true friend”.
In recent years he has shown true devotion, patience, and unwavering love to his wife of 50 years as her fulltime caretaker, after her diagnosis of and digression with Alzheimer’s, setting the ultimate example of a husband to his children and grandchildren.
After a brief, but difficult, battle with COVID, he passed away with his family at his side on Thursday, August 26.
We know without a doubt he stepped into Glory and heard “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”
He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Peavy.
He is survived by his loving Wife, Belle G.Peavy; children, Pam (Derek Sollars), Joey (Lisa), and Jackie (Tommy Thompson); grandchildren, Corey Martin, Jordan (Wyatt Owens), Cailyn Thompson, Joseph Peavy, Clay Thompson, and Layla Thompson; great-grandchild; Brantley Owens; his mother, Sarah Peavy; brothers; Billy (Kathy) Peavy, Jerrald (Joyce) Peavy; several nieces and nephews, and friends too numerous to count.
He was one of a kind, and will forever be missed.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Fund, 661 Friendship Road, Greenville, AL 36037