The funeral service for James Herring Perkins will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 21, at Riverwood with burial services, including graveside military honors, at Riverwood Cemetery. Visitation is from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service. A reception at Faith Presbyterian Church will follow the burial.
James "Jimmy" Perkins of Brookhaven, passed from this life and into his eternal rest on Saturday, February 17th, 2024, with his wife, Patti, by his side. Jimmy was born on August 29th, 1940, the youngest of three children to John Bent and Julia Herring Perkins, in Brookhaven. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sally Perkins Pidgeon Brown and his brother John Perkins.
While attending the University of Mississippi, Jimmy served in the U.S. Air Force ROTC and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. After graduating from Ole Miss in 1962, he attended Airforce Flight School at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. Jimmy served his country as a Captain in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1963 - 1967. A C-130 pilot, he flew many missions during the war, including transporting Bob Hope and his fellow entertainers to help lift the spirits of the servicemen. For his service, Jimmy was honored with the Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
In 1967, Jimmy began his distinguished career as a pilot for United Airlines. In 1968, he moved to the Bay Area in California where he met his wife, Patricia Lonsdale. In 1992, Jimmy and his family returned home to Brookhaven, Mississippi where he continued his career with United.
Jimmy was a lifelong train enthusiast and avid traveler. He visited many countries to ride his beloved steam locomotives. In his retirement, he volunteered at the Brookhaven Military Memorial Museum and was a member of the Brookhaven Servitium Club.
Jimmy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia "Patti" Perkins, his three children, Holly Perkins Slay and her husband, Timothy Slay of Brookhaven, Jeffrey Michael Perkins and his wife, Sarah, of Brandon, MS, and Randolph Perkins of New Orleans, LA; grandchildren, Ellie and Abby Slay of Brookhaven; and his godson Patrick Pidgeon of Los Angeles, CA.
The family would like to thank HaloCare caregivers Bridget and Loretta Prather, as well as Bridgett Crossley, Loretta Merritt and the staff of The Claiborne in McComb, MS.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the King's Daughter Medical Center Foundation and the Brookhaven Military Memorial Museum.
