Mr. James Boatner, 71, died Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Monday at First Pentecostal Church in Raymond with interment in Hartness Cemetery in Noxapater at 4 PM Monday. Visitation is 5-8 PM Sunday at Wright and Ferguson Ridgeland and 10 AM Monday at the church.
Mr. Boatner was born in Winston County Mississippi to Kathleen Hartness and the late Harold Ambers Boatner. He was a member of First Pentecostal Church of Raymond and was an employee of Durham Bus Lines for high school children. He Was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Mr. Boatner was preceded in death by his sister, Brenda Elias. He is survived by his wife, Rosie Boatner of Raymond; mother, Kathleen Hartness Downing of Raymond; sons, James Joseph Boatner (Jinita) of Livingston, TX, Robert Sproles (Ann) of Pearl, MS, and Lewis Hancock (Shell) of Clinton, MS; daughters, Brigit Mewbourn of Philadelphia, MS and Phyllis Manning (Stanley) of Philadelphia MS.
He is survived by his brothers, Guy Boatner of Moselle and Geno Downing (Sue) of Raymond; sister, Kathy Downing of Raymond; 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
