James A. "Jim" Rees

James A. "Jim" Rees Sr., 96, died, Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Born May 18, 1914, in Lawrence County, Miss., he was the son of the late William Walter and Mary M. Netherland Rees. He was reared and received his early education in Meadville, Miss., graduating from Franklin County Agriculture High School. In 1933 he joined the United States Navy, serving until 1937. With the outbreak of Word War II, he began his long civil service career. Working first for Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., he was then transferred to the Pine Bluff Arsenal in 1949. After 38 years of service as an Ammunition Quality Control Specialist, he retired in 1973. He was a member of Forrest Park Baptist Church, where he had been a deacon since 1961. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Hazel Pennington Rees; his sisters, Jesse Mae Rees Rushing and Mary Katherine Rees Chandler. He is survived by his wife Mattie L. Rees; his son James A. Rees Jr. and wife, Kriste McElhanon Rees, of Fayetteville; one granddaughter, Lydia Rees and husband, James Davidson, of Gainsville, Fla.; and three sisters, Geneva Calhoun, of Jackson, Miss., Virginia Byrd, of Quitman, Miss. and Peggy Patterson and her husband, Car , of Greenwood, S.C. Funeral service will be held 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 15, 2010 in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Monday at Robinson's. www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.