Jim Cornett Jr.

James E. "Jim" Cornett Jr., 71, of Culpeper died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2001, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

Born in Grant, Mr. Cornett started his career with Southern States in Greenville, Tenn. He moved to Brookneal, then Richmond, and in 1961 accepted a general manager position with the Farmer's Cooperative in Culpeper. He retired in 1973.

He then began to pursue a venture of franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants with Continental Motor Inns, which have spanned throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. Later, he franchised Hooters restaurants, as well as Topeka's Steakhouse and Saloon.

The widower of Helen Jones Cornett, he was a Korean War Army veteran.

Survivors include two daughters, Pamela Cornett Hoag and Cynthia Cornett Edwards, both of Culpeper; two sons, James Phillip Cornett of Richmond and James E. Cornett III of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and four grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Culpeper United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Marvin C. Cook and the Rev. John Crawford III officiating. Burial will follow in Culpeper Masonic Cemetery, with military honors.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Clore-English Funeral Home, Culpeper.

The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Culpeper Regional Hospital Foundation, 501 Sunset Lane, Culpeper, Va. 22701.