Jimmie Lee Hale, Sr. age 75, of Abingdon, Virginia, victoriously surrendered his battle to cancer on Thursday (March 19, 2015) at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tennessee. Born January 26, 1940 in Bartley, West Virginia, he was a son of the late Rev. Claude and Roberta Jackson Hale of Honaker, Virginia. Jim was 1958 graduate of Honaker High School and a retired railroad conductor from Norfolk and Southern Railroad. He was a United States Army Veteran, having served during the Vietnam War. A devoted Christian, he was a member of Shekinah Church Ministries in Blountville, Tennessee. Jim was loved by everyone who knew him and his giving and caring spirit were visible throughout his life. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
In addition to his parent, Jim was preceded in death by one brother, Carl “Pedro” Hale.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-four years, Mary Alice Hubbard Hale of the home; one son, Jimmy Hale, Jr. of Abingdon, Virginia; one granddaughter, Brittany Castle and husband, Kenny of Bristol, Virginia; one grandson, Matthew Hale of Abingdon, Virginia; great-grandson, Kaden Castle; brother, Dick Hale and wife, Sandra of Blountville, Tennessee; two sisters, Wanda Stinson and husband, Bill of Honaker, Virginia and Susan Shortt and husband, Mike of Advance, North Carolina; several nieces, nephews and extended family also survive.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 PM Saturday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Eggers and Dr. Sue Curran officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 AM Sunday at the Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, Virginia with Jamie and Allison Davidson officiating. Those wishing to attend are asked to assemble at Honaker Funeral Home by 10:30 AM Sunday to travel in the funeral procession.
Nephews and Matthew Hale will serve as pallbearers.
Former co-workers of N & S Railroad will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Honaker Funeral Home from 5 PM-7PM Saturday. Prior to the funeral, friends may visit at the home of Wanda Stinson in Honaker, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the form of donations to Shekinah Church Ministries; 394 Glory Road, Blountville, Tennessee 37617.
Online condolences may be sent to www.honakerfuneralhome.net.