James Wade Crews

James Wade Crews, age 84, passed away at his home on June 23, 2023. 

Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at Griffith Memorial Baptist Church in Jackson, MS.  The burial and a graveside service will be held at the Ladner Muckelrath Cemetery in Oak Grove (Hattiesburg) at 3:30 PM.  Chancellor’s Funeral Home in Byram is handling the arrangements. 

James was born to Noel and Cleo Crews on February 17, 1939 in Hattiesburg, MS.  He grew up in the Oak Grove Community in Hattiesburg and was a graduate of Oak Grove High School and Pearl River Junior College.  By profession,  James was a mechanic and enjoyed automotive work. He would take on any project, and he loved tearing “things down” to repair them or just to see how they worked.  One of his peers often referred to him as the “best carburetor man in town”.   He also enjoyed doing wood crafts and, in particular more recently, building bird houses.  He loved to listen to music whether he was sleeping or working in his shop, and in earlier years, he and his wife enjoyed square dancing.  At the top of his “no thank you” list were casseroles, and the sweet church ladies could never coax him into eating their specialty.  Chicken needed to be in the form of a fried chicken leg.  His favorite snack (or lunch) was a Rice Krispy Treat, and it could become a problem if the Rice Krispy Treat bowl was empty.   He and his friend, Bob Bullock, talked daily to see how old age was treating each of them and to have deep discussions that never amounted to much of anything.

James met his wife, Patsy, when she was his student nurse at Baptist Hospital, and they were married on September 2, 1967. Their union lasted 55 years.

He was a member of Griffith Memorial Baptist Church  and enjoyed his Sunday School class and the Brotherhood breakfasts.   He accepted the Lord as his Savior at a young age and was baptized in a creek in Oak Grove.

James was blessed with excellent physicians who guided him through his illnesses, and  James and his family were so appreciative of their kindness and medical expertise.

Preceding him in death was his father Noel,  mother Cleo, and brother Thomas.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his sister Linda Faye, his nieces and nephews, and many other extended family members.

Because James believed in the Brotherhood Mission and their work in the local community, memorials may be sent to the Griffith Baptist Church Brotherhood Fund, 5275 Terry Road, Jackson, MS. 39212.