Dr. James “Jamie” R. Carpenter, of Starkville, MS passed away, surrounded by his family on June 3, 2015. He was born August 21, 1933 in Macon, MS to David and Annie Carpenter.

He married Henryse “Ressie” Cox of Charleston, MS on October 23, 1954. He graduated from Mississippi State University then enlisted in the United States Army where he served in Virginia and Landstuhl, Germany as a medical helicopter crew chief.

Jamie and Ressie returned to Mississippi where he worked with Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in Carthage and Gloster, MS. In 1962 Jamie, Ressie and their three children moved to Starkville where Jamie continued working with Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service. During this period he also attended Louisiana State University and graduated with a doctorate in 1973. Throughout his service he worked in several leadership positions and retired as the Director of Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in 1988.

He has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Starkville since 1963 where he has been an elder, long-time member of the Tuesday Men’s Prayer group and has served in numerous other areas in the church

Jamie and his wife Ressie shared a love for traveling and spent much time traveling throughout the United States in their motorhome, oftentimes bringing their grandchildren to such places as the Grand Canyon., Oregon coast, Idaho, California, Washington, Maine, and Nova Scotia.

Jamie was also very much a family man and made numerous trips back and forth between Mississippi and Alabama visiting his children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. They enjoyed boating, skiing and especially fishing and Jamie also enjoyed hunting. Jamie was well-known for his generosity and gentle, kind-hearted ways. His soft-spoken voice and welcoming smile was loved by many.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, David Carpenter, his son James “Jay” R. Carpenter Jr. and his daughter Kelly Louise Carpenter. Jamie is survived by his wife, Henryse “Ressie” Cox Carpenter, daughter , Chris Carpenter of Trussville, AL, and daughter –in-law Leigh Caudill Carpenter of Huntsville, AL. Grandchildren include Kelly Melissa Tillman (James), Ashley Pritchard (Brent), Sumer Jones (Matt), and Jamie Leigh Suns (Steve) all of Trussville, AL, Katie Cummings (Caymran) of Fredricksburg, VA, Daisy Harbin (Josh) of Huntsville, AL, Chris Carpenter (Katie) of St. Louis, Missouri, Whitney West Dillard (John) of Morris, AL, Bailey West (Claire) and Mackie McFerrin of Tupelo, MS. He is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren.

The family is very appreciative for the excellent care and support given by their family physician, Dr. Everette McKibben and the Oktibbeha County hospital staff. This journey would have been so much more difficult without the love and prayers of life-long friends.

The visitation will be June 6, 2015 at Starkville First Presbyterian Church at 9:30 until 10:45 with funeral service following at 11:00. Burial will immediately follow at Starkville Memorial Gardens. The family asks that memorials be made to Palmer Children’s Home in Columbus, MS or the charity of their choice.