James "Jimmy" Douglass, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Clinton, MS, with his loving wife Melba and hospice personnel by his side.  He was born in Brookhaven, MS, the youngest of five children to Norval H. Douglas and Julia Case Douglas.

After graduating from Brookhaven High School, Jimmy attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Louisiana College where he earned his bachelor's degree. Sensing a call to ministry, he then attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary where he earned his divinity degree. Jimmy pastored churches in the Mississippi towns of Topeka, Anguilla, Santa Rosa, and Caesar before deciding to change his career to teaching. He relocated his family to Jackson, MS and began teaching in the Jackson Public School system, subsequently earning a master's degree in education from Mississippi State University. Jimmy taught for 28 years in the Jackson system, with the majority of the time spent as the teacher and education coordinator for the Hinds County Juvenile Detention Center and Youth Court.  After retiring at the age of 60, he spent an additional twenty years as a tutor for The Parenting Center of the Jackson Public School system.

Throughout his life, Jimmy was a man known for being able to fix anything. An unusual combination of book-smart and common sense, his talents seemed to find no limits. An avid reader and a skilled wood worker, he had a special affinity for the many uses of duct tape which was widely celebrated in his family. For many years, he built pine furniture and sold it to customers throughout the Southeast. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Clinton, MS where he spent many years as a well-respected Sunday School teacher, well known for his ability to understand and explain Biblical scripture in effective ways.

Jimmy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, being survived by his wife of 69 years, Melba, his four children and their spouses, Jim and Mittie Douglass of North Carolina, Steve and Janie Douglass of Clinton, MS, Lyn and Julia Douglas Kelly of Brandon, MS, and Ginny Douglas Baynes, of Pensacola, FL. He also enjoyed the love and attention of ten grandchildren and seven great children.

There will be a visitation at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton, MS, on Tuesday evening, September 12 from 5-7. A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, September 13, at 11:00am at First Baptist Church, Clinton, MS, with an additional visitation time from 10:00-11:00am prior to the service.