Jimmy Ray Pelham's Obituary
Jimmy Ray Pelham
Charleston – The family of Jimmy Ray Pelham, 83, announces his passing on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Jimmy was born February 5, 1940, in South Pittsburg, TN, the son of Beatrice and James Pelham. He attended Bridgeport High School and after graduating he enlisted in the US Navy in 1958. Jimmy served four years on the USS Brown which conducted operations in the Far East and along the West Coast, and on the USS Benner which also performed exercises off the coast of California. Upon leaving the Navy in 1962 Jimmy married JoAnn Cline his wife for the next 57 years and spent the next few decades working for Revere Copper and Brass of Scottsboro, Alabama and the family roofing businesses in Charleston, SC. In 1986 Jimmy founded his own successful roofing company, Coastal Roofing of Charleston, which played an important role in rebuilding Charleston after hurricane Hugo and built a reputation for being one of the top roofing contractors in the area. Jimmy was an active member of the Carolina Roofers and Sheetmetal Contractors Association and was widely known for expertise in his trade.
Jimmy sold his business in 2003 allowing him to spend more time with his wife JoAnn, his daughter Lisa, and son Jim and their growing families. Jimmy loved hunting, fishing, and became especially skilled at outdoor cooking and smoking. Holidays were always spent at Nana and Pop’s where there was always an overabundance of smoked turkey, burgers, barbeque, red rice, and watermelon. When he wasn’t overseeing the grandchildren swimming in his back yard pool with JoAnn, Jimmy liked to watch Alabama football, Western films, and tell stories while whittling cedar sticks.
Jimmy was a long-term member of the Bridgeport, AL Masonic Lodge No. 543 where he rose to the rank of Master Mason.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife JoAnn, and his sister Louise Smith of Mobile, AL. He is survived by his sister Beulah Elliott of Chattanooga, TN, and two children Lisa Kuisel (Wade) of Mt. Pleasant, and Jim Pelham (Tonya) of Goose Creek, and his six grandchildren Chloe Pelham, Bryson Pelham and Jameson Pelham of Goose Creek, and Thomas Kuisel of Minneapolis, MN, John Kuisel of Waynesboro, VA, and Katherine Kuisel of Berkeley, CA.
We would like to thank the friends and neighbors who assisted Jimmy in his later years after JoAnn passed away. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Rudder Funeral Home, 1552 County Road 94, Bridgeport, Alabama. (256) 495-2975.
In lieu of flowers we ask you to donate to Saint Mark United Methodist Church , 413 Geddes Ave., Charleston, SC 29407 in remembrance of Jimmy and JoAnn Pelham.
Funeral Services are pending at this time.
Online Condolences may be left at www.rudderfuneralhomes.com
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