James Robert Thomas was born on August 7, 1944, in Memphis, TN to Charles and Gladys Thomas. He passed away on November 9, 2023, at home in Holly Springs, MS.

Jimmy graduated high school in Iuka, MS and received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from the University of Mississippi. He served honorably in the US Army from 1967 until 1970.
 

Jimmy married Martha Hamberlin Thomas on March 11, 1967, in Mayersville, MS. In April 1976, their son Travis H Thomas was born in Memphis TN. Jimmy and Martha started their married life on Okinawa while Jimmy was in the service. Upon discharge, they both enrolled in the University of Mississippi where they obtained their degrees. Jimmy and Martha lived in Memphis, TN, Germantown, TN and finally in Holly Springs, MS where Jimmy fulfilled a lifelong ambition to own a historic home in a small town with a history from the time of the Civil War.

Jimmy worked as a sales representative for most of his career, but he was most excited about his position as Tourism Director in Holly Springs where he was able to share his knowledge of Southern history with visitors. While serving as Tourism Director, Jimmy served as the first chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission; served as coordinator for a consortium of Sons of Confederate Veterans organizations to plan and place historical markers for Grant’s Mississippi Central Railroad Campaign; and led a local effort to erect historical markers for Van Dorn’s raid in Holly Springs. While he loved to take cruises and go to football and baseball games at Ole Miss, he would say that his trips with Garrie Colhoun to special places they both wanted to see which had Civil War significance were his favorite excursions. Jimmy would research the history and Garrie would snap hundreds of pictures. His most recent trip was to Normandy (a historic place he had always wanted to visit) and Paris with Travis and Martha where they celebrated Travis’ birthday with a dinner cruise on the Seine.

 

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Martha, his son, Travis Thomas, his nephew, Mike Thomas (Denise) and his great niece Brittany Pratt (Case). He also leaves many other relatives and friends. In particular he will be remembered by his friends who made up The Jimmy Table at Ole Miss baseball. One either had to be named Jimmy or willing to have Jimmy added to their name to be a member of this group of fans (wives were automatically included). He is the third of the group to pass away, but those who have gone will never be forgotten.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church in Holly Springs, MS. The service will be held in the sanctuary of the church beginning at 2:00 pm with a reception following immediately in the Fellowship Hall of the church. The family asked that memorials be made to the Ernie LeBarge Bullpen Club at Ole Miss or the First Presbyterian Church in Holly Springs,