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James "Jimmy" Perkins

The funeral service for James Herring Perkins will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 21, at Riverwood with burial services, including graveside military honors, at Riverwood Cemetery. Visitation is from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service. A reception at Faith Presbyterian Church will follow the burial.

James "Jimmy" Perkins of Brookhaven, passed from this life and into his eternal rest on Saturday, February 17th, 2024, with his wife, Patti, by his side. Jimmy was born on August 29th, 1940, the youngest of three children to John Bent and Julia Herring Perkins, in Brookhaven. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sally Perkins Pidgeon Brown and his brother John Perkins.

While attending the University of Mississippi, Jimmy served in the U.S. Air Force ROTC and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. After graduating from Ole Miss in 1962, he attended Airforce Flight School at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. Jimmy served his country as a Captain in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1963 - 1967. A C-130 pilot, he flew many missions during the war, including transporting Bob Hope and his fellow entertainers to help lift the spirits of the servicemen. For his service, Jimmy was honored with the Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

In 1967, Jimmy began his distinguished career as a pilot for United Airlines. In 1968, he moved to the Bay Area in California where he met his wife, Patricia Lonsdale. In 1992, Jimmy and his family returned home to Brookhaven, Mississippi where he continued his career with United.

Jimmy was a lifelong train enthusiast and avid traveler. He visited many countries to ride his beloved steam locomotives. In his retirement, he volunteered at the Brookhaven Military Memorial Museum and was a member of the Brookhaven Servitium Club.

Jimmy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia "Patti" Perkins, his three children, Holly Perkins Slay and her husband, Timothy Slay of Brookhaven, Jeffrey Michael Perkins and his wife, Sarah, of Brandon, MS, and Randolph Perkins of New Orleans, LA; grandchildren, Ellie and Abby Slay of Brookhaven; and his godson Patrick Pidgeon of Los Angeles, CA.

The family would like to thank HaloCare caregivers Bridget and Loretta Prather, as well as Bridgett Crossley, Loretta Merritt and the staff of The Claiborne in McComb, MS.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the King's Daughter Medical Center Foundation and the Brookhaven Military Memorial Museum.

Media

8 comments

  • Comment Link Jim Morehead Saturday, 17 August 2024 20:57 posted by Jim Morehead

    I knew of his passing, but I had never seen an excellent video of Jim Perkins. He was a funny guy and he always would introduce himself as Jim, not John, Perkins. Life always has its great moments, and I always went through Brookhaven and a number of other Mississippi towns on the way to Louisiana Tech. They come from a good part of the country.

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  • Comment Link Jan Kinda Monday, 11 March 2024 14:30 posted by Jan Kinda

    To Patty and Jims entire family, my sincere condolences. Jim was such a great guy with a great sense of humor. I loved flying with him. He was one of the best. He will be missed...

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  • Comment Link Don Roszel Sunday, 10 March 2024 18:28 posted by Don Roszel

    To Patty and the rest of Jim’s family: my deepest condolences. Jim was one of my favorite people. I remember his sense of humor only too well.

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  • Comment Link John W.McGrath Wednesday, 06 March 2024 16:42 posted by John W.McGrath

    When I opened the letter from Pattie I was flooded with memories of our early friendship. It all began when I was allowed to cross South Jackson, St. by myself, about seven to eight years old. I remember going down to the to the Illinois Central tracks with Jimmy, a block east of his home, and waveing at and talking to the engineers of the steam engines pulling "Number 3," the "local" passenger train that ran between Menphis and New Orleans, (I think) stopping at practically every crossroad on the way. I also remember hooking up a microphone he got for Christmas, that would allow him to talk over the family radio, to a record player and an antenna. We would take turns at being the announcer, playing records and giving the news about the kittens his pet cat just had. His "radio station" lasted until we got a stern notice from the FCC that we were drowning out WJMB, our local radio station, at an area about 4 miles west of Brookhaven,
    Our early, close friendship lasted until, at about 12 years old, I got the big-head and told him that I was too old to play with him anymore.
    Thanks for the memories old friend.
    John McGrath

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  • Comment Link Don  Donette Wright Thursday, 29 February 2024 19:38 posted by Don Donette Wright

    Dear Patty and family;
    Jimmy will be sorely missed. especially with his United Airlines family.
    He was not only one of my best copilots but one of the best of friend in
    our UAL and especially his ALPA pilot group. He was well known for his always smiling face and quick wit. May God Bless you Jimmy

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  • Comment Link Mary Anne Black Sander Wednesday, 28 February 2024 08:05 posted by Mary Anne Black Sander

    Jimmy was my first cousin . We had been very close as children, and visited back and forth between our towns where we lived. I have such fond memories of him
    I was just notified of his passing recently or would have sent his sooner He was a wonderful person and fun to be with

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  • Comment Link nancy MYERS Tuesday, 20 February 2024 22:12 posted by nancy MYERS

    So sorry to hear about Mr. Jimmy. He will certainly be missed. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers

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  • Comment Link Patrick Pidgeon Monday, 19 February 2024 11:27 posted by Patrick Pidgeon

    So many wonderful memories of my Uncle Jimmy. I always bragged to my friends about him and Uncle Johnny for being military and airline pilots, since my father died when I was very young. And will cherish the memories of our annual lunch at the Brookhaven Military Memorial Museum, and Uncle Jimmy always had to have Janie's "chicken on the stick" for lunch. He's now with his brother and sister - my mother. Bless them all.

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