Greenville / Philadelphia
Funeral Home
Wilcox Funeral Home
Visitation
Pine Grove Church, Edinburg, Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 1-2 pm.
Service
Pine Grove Church, Edinburg, Saturday, July 20, 2024, 2:00 pm.
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on July 17, 2024 and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Sergeant First Class James Ira Kennedy, Sr., age 79, who had served within the MSARNG in the 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.
Obituary, Visitation, and Service details:
James Ira Kennedy, Sr. passed away at his home surrounded by family on July 17, 2024, at the age of 79.
Services will be held at Pine Grove Church in Edinburg on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Visitation is 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 20, 2024, until service time. Interment is in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Jamey Kennedy, Taylor Parker, Chad King, Josh Ginn, John Cingolani, and Robert Rice.
He was born on July 26, 1944, in Greenville, MS to the now deceased Gordon Edward Kennedy, Sr and Velma Roberts Kennedy.
James graduated from Greenville High in 1963. He continued his education at Delta State where he graduated in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He retired in 2000 after serving 25 years in the MSARNG where he received numerous medals and awards, including the rarely received Expert Infantry Badge. He retired again from MDOT in 2006.
He married the love of his life on December 20, 1964. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his son, Jamey and grandson, Taylor.
James is survived by his loving wife of 59 1/2 years, Kay Moore Kennedy; daughter, Joell Stafford; son, James Ira Kennedy, Jr. (Jacki); three grandchildren, Jordan King (Chad), Taylor Parker (Amanda), and Morgan Ginn (Josh); ten great-grandchildren, Charley King, Kennedy “Jake” King, Ellie Mae King, Bailey Parker, Adalyn Parker, Emmie Trippe, Aiden Parker, Ezra Ginn, Eli Ginn, and Micah Ginn; two special nieces, Vicki Cingolani (John) and Mitzi Rice (Robert); one brother, Gordon Edward Kennedy, Jr. (Emily); two nephews and one niece.