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.

The funeral service for Billy O. Britt will be 2 p.m., Saturday, February 17, at Victory Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m., Friday, February 16, at Riverwood and will resume from 1 p.m. until the time of service at Victory.

Mr. Britt, 78, of Brookhaven, passed from this life and into his eternal rest on February 14, 2024, at his residence, with his family by his side. He was born December 29, 1945, the only child of Oscar and Alice Smith Britt. He was raised in the Loyd Star community where he attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Mr. Britt was married to Fredna “Freddie” Burnaman Britt. When they were expecting their third child, he decided to return to college and finish his degree in education. He began his coaching and teaching career in Lincoln County at Enterprise Attendance Center.

He moved to north Mississippi to coach in Monroe County and then at Duck Hill in Montgomery County, where he coached a special group of young men whom he loved and has cherished their relationship for life.

He later returned to south Mississippi where he served as principal and superintendent in the Lincoln County School District. He retired from public education as principal at Wesson Attendance Center in 2007.

Mr. Britt was a founding member of Victory Baptist Church where he served as deacon and taught Sunday School.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law, Kirk Allen; brothers-in-law, Charles Burnaman and Phillip David Burnaman; and sister-in-law, Donis Thompson.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Fredna “Freddie ”Britt; three children, Robby Britt and wife, Tammy of Wesson, Stephanie Britt Allen of Bogue Chitto, and Landon Britt and wife, Teresa of Brookhaven; grandchildren, Taylor Allen of Oxford, MS, Tate Allen of Starkville, MS, Joshua Britt of New Orleans, LA, Tanner Allen of Bogue Chitto, MS, Kayla Britt Alderman and husband, Cory of Brookhaven, MS, Mary Elizabeth Allen Fischer and husband, Erich of Bogue Chitto, MS, Mackenzie Britt Sizemore and husband, David of Bay St. Louis, MS, Collin Britt and wife, Breanna of Brookhaven, MS; great grandchildren, Lila Alderman, Bo Sizemore, Kipp Fischer, and Lottie Alderman; and sister-in-law, Stella Petty.

In lieu of flowers a Scholarship fund has been set up at Trustmark Bank to create a scholarship to honor Mr. Britt’s legacy and contributions to education.