Mr. James E. “Jim” Nabers, 62, passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Baptist Golden Triangle Medical Center in Columbus, MS. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 1st, at First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Scott Phillips and Rev. Tony Linley officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jim was born September 7, 1956, in Columbus, MS. He was a graduate of Winston Academy, East Central Community College, and Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Marketing. Jim was a member of the 1974 and 1975 East Central Community College football teams, as well as the 1975 baseball team. He was first team All-State in football both season and Honorable Mention All-American in 1975, competing in the Junior College All-Star game that season. He was the first signee for the national champion Oklahoma Sooners in 1976, and later was the starting punter for Mississippi State University in 1977 and 1978, at one time holding the second best punting average for the Bulldogs. He was inducted into the East Central Community College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. He was the owner of the Nabers Companies, and was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Fred Nabers, Jr.
Jim is survived by his wife, Cindy Knight Nabers; a daughter, Braeden Nabers of Louisville; a step-daughter, Bailey Wood of Louisville; and a step-son, Kiel Higginbotham of Flowood, MS; two sisters, Nan (Herb) Boydstun of Baton Rouge, LA, and Susan Krawulski of Louisville; a brother, Dr. Fred Nabers of Louisville, and two step-grandchildren, Jett and Lake Higginbotham.
Pallbearers are Gene Foster, Sid Williams, Chris Harris, Michael Nabers, Scott Nabers, John Boydstun, Dee Mosley, and Ben Clark.
Memorials may be made to Grace Christian School or First Presbyterian Church.
