James L. (Jimmy) McCaleb, 95, of Clinton, MS, died at his assisted living residence on July 26, 2020.

Born in Raleigh, TN, he grew in the Columbus, MS, area and was in the Navy Seabees construction unit, serving in the South Pacific in World War II.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Ellen Ashley White McCaleb; his parents, Clarence and Mabelle Lamar McCaleb and sister, Joyce Cade of Tupelo, MS.

He is survived by his brother-in-law Ron White (Margie), Black Mountain, NC; nieces Ashley Anne Ellis, Ruston, LA; Carrie Owen (Jason) of College Station, TX and nephew Christopher Neil White of Houston, TX; a great-niece and four great-nephews.

Jimmy graduated from Mississippi College, Clinton, with graduate degrees from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX and Southern Mississippi University in Hattiesburg.

He served as minister of music in several churches, around the world after joining the Air Force which enabled him to develop music worship in small Baptist churches, including an English-speaking church when stationed in Saigon, Vietnam. Following retirement from the Air Force he served in churches in Hattiesburg, Starkville and Jackson, MS, before joining the Miss. Baptist Convention Music Department where he organized and taught seminary-level courses around the state for bi-vocational ministers of music.

He and Ashley were interested in the study of hymns and made several trips world wide to visit where hymns were written.

Jimmy is buried next to Ashley at Kilpatrick's Memorial Gardens in Ruston, LA, in a private, immediate family graveside ceremony due to coronavirus restrictions. A public memorial service is to be in Clinton at a safer time.

Arrangements were overseen by Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston with initiation assistance by Wright and Ferguson in Clinton.