James E. McGinnis Jr.

Published 4:00 am Friday, January 8, 2016

    Services for James E. McGinnis Jr. will be today at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Raymon Leake officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery with Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. McGinnis, 87, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, at his residence after a long illness. He was born Dec. 4, 1928, in Meridian, and lived his entire life in his beloved hometown. He graduated from Meridian High School in 1946. He was an outstanding football and track athlete, and was awarded the Alex Loeb Trophy as a senior. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1949 with a degree in business, and was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served two years in the United States Army Chemical Corps during the Korean Conflict.  

    Mr. McGinnis spent 64 years in the wholesale lumber business that his father, J. Earl McGinnis, founded in 1922. He was also president and founder of McGinnis Distributing Company, a building supply company servicing the local contractor trade, and ran that business for 49 years. He loved the lumber business, and was always quick to give credit for his success to the many loyal employees who worked with him over the years.

    Mr. McGinnis was very active in the community, serving on the boards of many business, civic and philanthropic organizations, including Meridian Community College, Rush Foundation Hospital, Unifirst Savings and Loan, Deposit Guaranty National Bank, Meridian Chamber of Commerce (president, 1975), American Red Cross, Salvation Army (chairman, 1969), United Way, Meridian Museum of Art (president, 1983), Meridian Redevelopment Authority (chairman, 1978), Junior Achievement, Lauderdale County Heart Association, Meridian Exchange Club (president, 1960), Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (president,1979 and received the Silver Beaver Award in 1981), and was King of the Junior Auxiliary Mardi Gras Ball in 1979. Significant lumber industry achievements include president of the Forest Products Wholesalers Association (1969) and president of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (1976). He often commented that the community had been good to our family, and that it was important to give back to it with our time and financial support.  

    More importantly, Mr. McGinnis was a devoted family man and had a strong and abiding faith in God. He was a faithful husband, a loving and supportive father and a loyal friend. He was a life-long member of First Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday School teacher, usher, deacon, finance chairman, and in many other leadership roles. As his health declined and he could not attend church, he always watched the services on television, and was very grateful for that ministry. His inherent qualities of fairness, honesty, integrity, and consistency were an exemplary model for his children and grandchildren, the foundation of his long and happy marriage, the key to his business success, and was sustaining to his many friends, business associates, and all who knew him. The grief of those he leaves behind is made easier by the assurance that he has ascended to heaven where he joins the many family and friends who have passed before him. “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

    The family would like to thank his faithful caregivers: Millie Wilkins, Erika Leflore, Juanita Newell, Mary Cobb and Alinda Martin.

    Survivors include his devoted and loving wife of 63 years, Virginia Davis McGinnis; children, Virginia (Gina) M. Long (Hank), Carol M. Alexander (Rex), and J.E. (Jim) McGinnis III (Cindy); grandchildren, Henry Long (Alice), Virginia Long, Tommy Kitsmiller, Menton M. DeWeese (Matthew), Davis McGinnis (Karli) and Caroline McGinnis; brother-in-law, Larry B. Flood; niece, Melissa F. Neyland (Nash); and nephew, Lloyd B. Flood (Susan).

    He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Earl and Louise Parker McGinnis; and his sister, Louise M. Flood.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Meridian, 701 26th Ave., Meridian, MS 39301.

     Pallbearers will be Hank Long, Rex Alexander, Henry Long, Tommy Kitsmiller, Davis McGinnis, Nash Neyland, Lloyd Flood and Scott Hudson.

    Visitation will be today at 9:30 a.m. at the church.  

    Family and friends may sign the online memorial at jamesfwebb.com