James Bean

James Bean

Hattiesburg

James L. "Jim" Bean, 80, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2013 at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg.

Jim was born in Clanton, AL on December 15, 1932. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was Life of Georgia district manager in Little Rock, AR and Hattiesburg, MS and was owner of Holloway Transfer and Stg. Co. in Hattiesburg. He served in the MS State Senate from 1986 to 2000. While serving in the MS State Senate, he was the recipient of multiple honors and awards. He was most proud of legislation that he sponsored in the area of health care, mainly laws put into place concerning Foster Care Children. This Mississippi Law "The BEANie BABY" bill was later adopted and became a model for the 50 States. Thousands of children's lives have been changed in the foster care/child welfare system.He also was very instrumental in the establishment of the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association which provides quality health care for all Mississippians in need. He was the recipient of this organization's first Lifetime Achievement Award.

Above all....the love for his family was of the uppermost importance of his life.

Mr. Bean is survived by his wife of 58 years, Peggy Johnson Bean; a daughter, Jamie Hester; a son, Skip and his wife Danette Bean; two brothers, Jeff Payne and Jerald Payne; three sisters, Joy Blessing, Jean Roberts, and Jane Simmons; two grandchildren, Beth Sones and Blake Hester; two great-grandchildren, Eden and Eliana Sones.

Memorials may be made to Palmers HOme for Children, PO Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday with visitation beginning at 11:00 AM at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg.

Burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery.