Hood Jr., James Matthew - James Matthew Hood, Jr., 82 of Houston, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 18, 2016, after an extended illness. Jimmy was born on March 30, 1934, at Baptist Hospital in Memphis to Dr. J. M. Hood and Lilly Patterson Hood of Houlka, Mississippi. Jimmy attended Houlka Public Schools where, in the first grade, he met his lifelong love and wife of 58 years, Janelle Buchanan, who preceded him in death on August 25, 2015. They graduated Houlka High School together in 1952 and were married on December 22, 1956.

He attended the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and he was a graduate of Mississippi College. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve as a medic. Jimmy and Nell lived and worked in Memphis for a time before returning to Houlka to help care for his aging parents. He worked for the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission and the Tupelo Daily Journal before attending Jackson School of Law, now Mississippi College School of Law. While in law school he worked in the administration of Gov. John Bell Williams in the Governor s Office of Highway Safety.

After law school he established a law practice on the square in Houston in 1970. He practiced law continuously until he was hospitalized. He was elected Chickasaw County Prosecuting Attorney and was also appointed attorney for the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors. He served as attorney for the Chickasaw County School Board and the Town of New Houlka for 45 years. Later in his career he also served as attorney for the Houston Municipal Separate School District and as city prosecutor for the City of Houston. He was a life member of the Mississippi Prosecutors Association and a valued supporter of the law enforcement community.

He cherished strong personal relationships with many public servants and fellow attorneys with whom he worked throughout his career. Whether at the capitol, the courthouse, the school house or city hall, he was always surrounded by dear friends working together for a better community. He was a gentleman lawyer who honored his relationships with other attorneys.

Jimmy was active in politics his entire life. He served for over 30 years as chairman of the Chickasaw County Democratic Executive Committee. He also served for many years on the state Democratic Executive Committee where he worked hard to integrate the party in the 1970s. He was a devoted Christian whose public life was motivated by his personal faith. He always fought for those less fortunate.

Jimmy was baptized and married at the Houlka First Baptist Church. The family moved to Houston in 1973. He was a member of Houston First Baptist Church for over 40 years, where he taught the older men s Sunday school class. He was dedicated to his family. In his younger days he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and friends. He also enjoyed following Ole Miss Sports with his wife, cooking for his family and socializing with his family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Jeanette Scott Davis of Houston, and Lilly Frances McGill Reed of New Albany, and his beloved wife, Nell, and three sisters-in-law, Pauline Buchanan, Blanche Campbell, and Venita Alexander.
Jimmy is survived by his loving children, Beth Hood Colbert of Brandon, Jim Hood and his wife, Debbie, of Houston, and Tom Hood and his wife, Jennifer, of Madison. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Caroline Hunter and her husband, Clark, of Brandon, Rebecca, Matthew, Annabelle, Noah and James Hood, and one great-granddaughter, Nella Hunter. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are provided by Houston Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2016, at First Baptist Church in Houston and will be followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Houlka. Memorials may be made to Houston First Baptist Church, 201 W. Madison St., Houston, MS 38851, or Houlka First Baptist Church, 504 Griffin Ave., New Houlka, MS 38850.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to all the healthcare workers who provided him with loving care over the last six months. He faced his death with the same unwavering faith and resilient courage that guided his life as he continually set an example of hope, faith and love.
Friends and family may leave a message at houstonfuneralhomems.com.