John Thomas James, 88, passed away from a sudden fall while outside at his home on November 3, 2024.
He was the oldest of 4 children born to Buford Belmont (B.B.) James and Mildred Dunagan James on April 17, 1936.
Tom was born in McEwen, TN. The life of a preacher’s son meant a number of moves during his childhood, but Hohenwald, Tennessee always meant home. “Tommy” began senior year in Henderson, TN. There he enjoyed being the new boy in town. He played football, was senior class president, but most importantly met the love of his life, Rose Lynn Witt. A couple of years later, they were married and started their family, having daughter Melanie and four years later, their son Mark. Together, they worked through many years of financial hardship, pursuing college at UT Knoxville and Veterinary School at Auburn. The vet school families and church community at Auburn still hold a special place in the hearts of the James family.
After graduating, Dr. Tom began private practice in Paris, TN where the family lived for 14 years. While there he was active in his church at Eastwood Church of Christ and Henry Church of Christ. Tom and Rose welcomed their third child, Camille, to their family while Tom and Rose built a wonderful life of owning and operating a private veterinary practice filled with many hobbies, family and friends.
It was there that Tom was instrumental in starting a bus ministry and breakfast program for community school children, was involved in gospel singing, community theater, horse shows, rodeo events and served as the President of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association. “Doc” was not one to sit still and thoroughly enjoyed his rough and tumble lifestyle. The strength, stamina and painful injuries of his early years would serve him well in his last few years of life. Being kicked by horses, crushed by cows and emergency calls 7 days a week at all hours was the life of a country vet in those good old days. His daughter Melanie was a frequent partner on these excursions.
Tom was known for his big, beautiful bass voice. He proudly displayed a framed copy of an invitation to audition with the old OakRidge Quartet, but he made the decision at a young age to devote his life to family instead of life on the road. Through the years, Tom sang with gospel quartets, barbershop quartets, and choruses for countless funerals and even a few weddings. He also taught numerous fellow church members how to lead congregational acapella singing, passing his gift along to others who wished to learn.
Tom taught his children the value of hard work and loved nothing more than to get the whole family involved in animal husbandry, large scale gardening, and living following the old ways, whether the family liked it or not! There were run away horse and buggy adventures, plowing fields with horse drawn plows, butter making, worm farming and so much more!
Over the following years, Tom would work for the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) as a veterinarian protecting Tennessee Walking Horses from the practice of “soaring” and inspecting living conditions for research laboratory animals, zoo animals, and privately owned exotic animals. There are many stories in the vault for this phase of his career! Just two weeks before his passing, the constipated elephant story came around once again. And how he enjoyed telling it to the hospital staff!
JT, as many knew him, also started 2 more private veterinary practices serving Springfield, Greenbrier and Goodlettsville, TN and kept up his certifications and treating animals on a small scale until he was 83.
Dr. Tom was very proud of 36 years of sobriety, being a long-time active member of AA. He often hosted meetings in his home and sponsored several recovering members doing the hard work of beating addiction. Both Tom and Rose have spent countless hours and have experienced much joy and sometimes heartbreak working with the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM) and Churches of Christ Disaster Relief.
Rose, Tom’s rock, remained close by his side and provided the best of love and care during his last few years of declining health. He will be sorely missed by his loving family and many, many friends.
Tom is survived by his wife, Rose; Daughter, Melanie James of Charlotte, NC; son, Mark James of Nashville, TN; daughter, Camille Wood (Carl Fennen) of Idaho Falls, ID; grandchildren, Dr. Emily Hutcheson (Kit), Madison Wood, Dana Wood, Melissa (Wood) Radcliffe and Warren Wood; two great-grandchildren; and sister, Sherrill Sadjak.
He is preceded in death by his parents, BB and Mildred James; siblings, Lavonne McClish, and Monte James.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM) and/or Churches of Christ Disaster Relief. Donations may be sent c/o Robertson County Funeral Home.
Services will be held on Saturday, Nov 9, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Church of Christ with visitation from noon until the service at 3:00 p.m. Burial will occur on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 12 noon at Sanders Cemetery across from Poplar Grove Church of Christ in McEwen, TN. https://www.robertsoncountyfuneralhome.com
For more obituaries visit https://robertsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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