Paul Alexander James

Paul Alexander James, 56, was born on January 16, 1964, and went peacefully to be with his Heavenly Father from his home in Trenton, TN, on February 25, 2020, with his family by his side.

Paul was born in Chicago, IL, the son of the late Ina Larry James and the late Ed James. He was employed at Bryan Custom Plastics and for 17 years by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company until he took a medical retirement due to being disabled by multiple sclerosis (MS). Paul was a member of New Bethlehem Baptist Church in Dyer, TN, and was truly loved by his church family.

Paul enjoyed playing softball and hunting, but his passion was being an avid bass fisherman, winning many tournaments. As his multiple sclerosis progressed, he became unable to enjoy these hobbies, so his new passion became collecting antique fishing lures. He was diagnosed with MS in 1992 and was treated at the Vanderbilt Multiple Sclerosis Clinic in Nashville for 26 years. Once Paul was diagnosed with cancer in October, he wanted to make sure all his nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews in the family knew how much he loved them and how happy they had made him. He loved being called Uncle Cheese by the younger ones.

Paul was preceded in death by his mother, Ina Larry James of Chicago, IL, and his father, Ed James, and stepmother, Carlene James, both of Rutherford, TN. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Terry James, of Texas and his special father-in-law, Willard Carroll, of Trenton, TN.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years and caregiver, Kathy Carroll James, beloved mother-in-law Lois Carroll of Trenton, TN, sisters Linda James and Brenda James of Rutherford, TN, and sister Edwina Mowery and husband, Tom, of Chicago, IL, brothers-in-law Dale Carroll and wife, Kay, and Roger Carroll and wife, Carla, both of Trenton, TN, sisters-in-law Rhonda Stafford and husband, Terry, and Michele Whitaker and husband, Jerry, both of Dyer, TN, niece Donna Fielder and husband, John, and their children Mariah, Breanne, Tia, and William of Fox Lake, IL, nephew Michael Lee and wife Jeanette, and their children Sadie, Jasmine and Suzie of Chicago, IL, nephew Eddie Lee and wife, Linda, and their children Tommy and Alexis of Lake Villa, IL, and nephew Richie Lee and wife, Becky, and their children Jason, Michael, and Demi of Antioch, IL, nephew Robert Misitano and family of Elgin, IL, Aunt Lois Stover and the late Uncle Earl Stover of Union City, TN, cousin Rachel Via and family of Union City, TN, cousin Melba Biggs and family of Obion County, TN, cousin Debbie Walden and family of Union City, TN, and cousin Mary Chessor and family of Halls, TN, Aunt Lou Larry and the late Uncle Doyle Larry of Troy, TN, cousin Pastor Archie Larry and family of Obion, TN, and cousin Xan Campbell and family of Troy, TN.

Also surviving Paul are his nephew Brad Whitaker and wife, Molly, and their daughter Eleana of Lexington, TN, nephew Phillip Hill and wife, Jessica, and their children Connor and Brylee, of Rutherford, TN, nephew Brian Stafford and wife, Becky, and their children Arjay and Willow, of Trenton, TN, nephew Brad Stafford and wife, Haley, of Fruitland, TN, niece Amanda Callins and husband, Chris, and their children Blaine and Sawyer, of Dyer, TN, niece Rachel Abbott and husband, Jacob, and their children Jaxon, Chandler, and Mason, of Dyer, TN, niece Heather Cotham and husband, Hunter, of Dyer, TN, niece Sarah Williams and husband, Chance, and their daughter Lucy, of Trenton, TN, and niece Bailey Carroll and fiancé, Jake Hinson, of Brazil, TN.

Pallbearers to serve will be Dale Carroll, Roger Carroll, Jerry Whitaker, Terry Stafford, Curtis Mann and Mike Garner. Honorary Pallbearers to serve are Melvin Pipkin, Danny Gathings, Jeff Whitby, Randy Whitby, Will Minton, Ricky Joe Barron, and Tom Mikkelsen.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 5PM until 8PM on Friday, February 28, 2020, at Karnes and Son Funeral Home in Dyer, TN. Funeral services will be held at 2PM on Saturday, February 29, 2020, with Brother John Coleman and Brother Marlon Stephens officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Dyer, TN.

To honor Paul's request, he will be laid to rest next to his father-in-law, best buddy, and partner in crime, Willard Carroll. To know Paul was to love him and he leaves all those who knew him to cherish his memory.