James Kennedy Caldwell

James “Jimbo” Kennedy Caldwell passed from this life at the age of 78 on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, at his home in Marianna, AR.  

Jim was born on August 17, 1943, near Aubrey AR (Big Creek Township in Lee County) to William Monroe Caldwell and Oma Ada Kennedy.  He attended school in Aubrey and played junior high basketball for the Aubrey Wildcats.  He married Margie Henson in 1961 and later (1969) moved his family to West Helena, AR where he worked building tires for Mohawk Rubber Company for 16 years.  He served as an Emergency Auxiliary Deputy Sherrif in Phillips County.  He also managed the local Mohawk Federal Credit Union and began to buy and sell used automobiles as a side hustle.  After Mohawk closed, he opened his own used car business, Caldwell Auto Sales, in Marvell, AR, where he sold and financed used vehicles until transitioning to selling used tractors and farm equipment as Caldwell Tractor Sales in the past 10 or so years.   HE NEVER RETIRED!

Jim was an excellent salesman and enjoyed daily comradery with family, friends, or customers. People knew him everywhere he went.  If we were to write a Caldwell Family story, Jimbo would be the mischievous, Trickster character - light-hearted, fun loving, storytelling, laughing, teasing, talk-talk-talking, and misbehaving every chance he got.  The Annual Caldwell Family Reunion will not be the same without him!

Jimbo was preceded in death by his parents:  William Monroe Caldwell and Oma Ada Kennedy Caldwell; his brothers: Emmitt Caldwell, Whit Caldwell, Joe Edwards, J.B Caldwell, Travis “Sonny Boy” Caldwell, and Gus Rogers;

and his sisters: Ruby Caldwell, Mary Rock, Nora Parks, Adeline Herby, Sarah Hand, Ernestine Heritage, Vivian Smith, and JennieHarris.

Survivors include his sisters: Doris Wheeler of Newark, Patricia Davidson of Ward, and Betty Rowton of Lonoke; One son, Tim Caldwell of Moro, and one daughter, Sherry Ellis of Jonesboro;

five grandchildren: Tim Caldwell Jr. (Tiffany), Kim Folsom(Rodney), Justin Caldwell, Jordan Ellis, and Cole Caldwell; and four great grandchildren: Ledger and Luke Folsom, and Landon andMason Caldwell;

and special friend, Lara Wattlington.