James Andrew 'Jimmy' Lunsford

Mr. James Andrew "Jimmy" Lunsford, 92, of Blytheville, died Sunday, June 26, 2011, at Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin Tenn., after an extended illness.

Born and raised in the Clear Lake Community to Walter F. and Norah L. Craig Lunsford, Mr. Lunsford was a farmer. He left farming to pursue a career in boxing and successfully boxed his way through the Golden Gloves circuit, all the way to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where he was defeated only a couple of times. He left the boxing ring to enter World War II, where he served the Engineers Battalion in the Philippines.

Returning to Blytheville after the war, Jimmy attended the First Baptist Church and was a faithful member of the Adult Men's Bible Class. He also owned Bestway Laundry/Dry Cleaners for many years and was an avid sportsman, hunter, fisherman and gardener.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Lunsford was preceded in death by his wife, 
Geneva Akins Lunsford; five brothers, G.W., Louis, Joe, Rayford, and Eddie; and two sisters, Nell Whitehead and Mary Moore.

Mr. Lunsford leaves his sisters, Brucie East of Richmond, Va., Eva Peeler (and Jack) of Arlington, Tenn., Roberta Runions (and Bobby) of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Yvonne Cole (and Charles) of Plano, Texas;

One brother, Larry Lunsford (and Linda) of Amelia, Va.;

A special friend, Georgia Yopp; and

Several nieces and nephews and a host of other friends, neighbors, hunting and fishing buddies.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Greg Bowers officiating. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Cobb Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Adult Men's Class at First Baptist Church in Blytheville.

Condolences may be emailed to cobbfuneralhome@sbcglobal.net