James Albert Sullivan

James Albert Sullivan, Jr., Buttermilk, 88, a lifetime resident of Nashville, died Tuesday, July 31, at Quapaw Nursing Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. James was born to the late Grace and Albert Sullivan on November 30, 1923, at home on Corinth Road just outside of Nashville. He was one of eight children. He attended grade school at Chapel Hill School and graduated from Nashville High School in 1942. He was a proud Scrapper football player. He joined the Navy in December of 1942, serving the Duration in the South Pacific, most of his duty as an aircraft gunner on the USS Makin Island aircraft carrier. He was discharged in 1946. Returning to Nashville, he attended Henderson State Teachers College and played for the Reddie football team. Opportunity knocked when he got the chance to purchase the Borden's Milk distributorship from his uncle. Almost overnight, he went from the football practice field to getting up before dawn to deliver milk house-to-house. He married his high school sweetheart, Ora Jean Ball, and they set up housekeeping on West Sunset Street. James ran the business, and Ora Jean kept the books. Their only child Janet Carol was born two years later. James went on to referee football, serve as President of the Howard County School Board, sit on the boards of directors at GN&A Railroad and Regions Bank, and serve as a volunteer fireman and then fire chief. In 1987, he retired from the Borden's Milk business after forty years. Since then, James has lived a life of retirement enjoying family, friends, the coffee shops, the bank coffee-break room, and just hanging out in his beloved Nashville with his many â�œcronies.â₝ He especially took delight in watching his grandchildren, Grant and Brooke Ponder, grow into happy adults. He was blessed with four great-grandchildren: Maggie Brooke Perry, Betsy Grace Ponder, Lucy Jane Perry, and Ryan James Ponder. James moved to Hot Springs in recent months as his health declined to be closer to his daughter. James is survived by his daughter Jan Booker and husband Doug, his grandson Grant Ponder and wife Jill, his granddaughter Brooke Ponder Perry and husband Ian, as well as the above mentioned great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews and their children and grand-children scattered all across the country. James is preceded in death by his wife Ora Jean; his parents; his four sisters, Faye McClenahan, Jo Walton, Sarah Woodruff, and Sue Hansen; and his three brothers, Leford Sullivan, John Sullivan, and George Sullivan. Visitation will be held at the Latimer Funeral Home next Tuesday, August 7th, from 5:00-7:00 PM. The memorial service, officiated by Bro. Don Jones, will be the next day Wednesday, August 8th, at 2:00 PM at Latimer Chapel, followed by a brief burial service at Restland Memorial Gardens. You may send an online sympathy message ato www.latimerfuneralhome.com.. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Albert Sullivan please visit our Sympathy Store.