Mr. Jimmy O’Brian Luke, 73, passed away on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Winston Medical Center in Louisville, Mississippi. Visitation will be at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi, on Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 12 noon until service time. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home Chapel in Louisville, Mississippi, with Rev. Larry Haggard and Rev. Mike Dowd officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Luke was born January 11, 1939. He was a lifetime member of Middleton United Methodist Church, and served in the Army National Guard. He loved antique cars and participated and won many trophies. Jimmy was an avid NASCAR fan! After 38 years of service, he retired from U. S. Electrical Motors of Philadelphia, Mississippi. In his retirement, he enjoyed driving cars for Crowson Auto World.
Mr. Luke is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sarah Ann Small Luke of Louisville, Mississippi, as well as two sisters, Barbara Sullivan also of Louisville, and Lynda Jolly and husband, Alex, of Brandon, Mississippi. He is also survived by other relatives: Janice Davis and husband, Jim, of Columbus, Mississippi; Lynn Moore and husband, Albert, of Louisville; and Willie Small and wife, Ann, of Denham Springs, Louisiana. He also has several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and a great-great-grandson. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Birtie Lee Harrison Luke; and his son, Brian Luke.
Jimmy and Sarah were fortunate to have special neighbors, friends, and family: Diane Adcock, Judy Post, Wanda Coward, Jan Lowery, Geraldine Covington, Beverly Woods, Frank Morgan and caregivers, Dot Papalambros and Ruth Pearson.
Many thanks to Dr. Michael Ard, nurses, and attendants of Winston Medical Center, Dr. Justin Baker of Hederman Cancer Center of Jackson, Mississippi, and nurses and therapists of Sta-Home Health Center.
Pallbearers will be Frank Morgan, Tommy Luke, Lamar Parks, Jay McMillin, Ricky McArthur, and Billy Joe Horn. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Willie Small, Alex Jolly, Jim Davis, Albert Moore, Tommy Landers, Joe Johns, Jerry Whitehead, M. D. McMinn, Mike Stevenson, Franklin McDill, and Travis Joiner. Memorials may be given in honour of his son, Brian Luke, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Tribute Program, P. O. Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS is handling the arrangements. You may sign the guestbook at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
