James Ray Hight

1930 - 2016

James Ray Hight

Jackson, TN

James Ray Hight, Sr., 86, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday evening November 1, 2016.

Services will be held at George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Saturday, November 5, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am and the service following at 11:00 am. Rev. Lisa Harper of the First United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Hollywood Cemetery with a brief graveside prayer.

Ray was the middle son of the late Allen Hill Hight, Sr. and Ruth Hall Hight. His brothers are Allen H. Hight, Jr, deceased, and Hermon H. Hight. He was a lifelong communicant of the First United Methodist Church, where he was Christened in June of 1930. He joined the church at Easter, 1941, and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Nelle Evans, on October 8, 1949. He was treasurer of the church for 14 years, sang in the Men's Chorus and Sanctuary Choir for 32 years and served on the Board of Stewards for 20 years.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Nelle, and was the proud father of three children, Susan Lynn Hight, deceased, Dr. James Ray Hight, Jr, and Mary Corinne Hight. He was the grandfather of Dr. Lucy Hight Digmon and Julie Hight, and two great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Digmon and James Digmon. He also leaves his daughter-in-law, Bettie Webb Hight, and grand son-in-law Marshall Digmon.

Ray was educated Jackson City schools where he graduated from Jackson High School in 1947. He earned three letters in football and two letters in basketball. He was catcher on teams for the church and commercial leagues. He attended Union University for one year before his employment by the First National Bank on September 7, 1948. He was a runner, bookkeeper, general bookkeeper, teller and loan officer. Rising through the ranks to Vice President in charge of Commercial Loan Operations and Investment Operations, he graduated from Banking Schools at Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Louisiana State University, and the Investment School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

He was a member of the Ambassadors of the Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson Exchange Club of the Tennessee District Exchange clubs, where he held the highest offices. He achieved the highest honors in the Tennessee Masons; Order of Anointed High Priest, the Order of the Silver Trowel, Knight York Cross of Honor, Knight Commander Court of Honor, and 33*Degree Honorary.

He served in the United States Naval Reserves from 1948 to 1958. Resigning after 36 years at the Frist National Bank, Ray ran for the Public Office of Assessor of Property, Madison County, and began serving on September 1, 1984. He served five consecutive terms before retiring on August 31, 2004. During his tenure as Assessor of Property, Madison County, he served as the Presidents of the West Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers and The Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers. He was a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers and served on the Ethics Committee for one term and helped write the ethics rules. He received the professional Certifications of Tennessee Certified Assessor, Residential Evaluation Specialist, and the Certified Assessment Evaluator. Ray graduated in the charter Class of Certified Public Administrators, the first of its kind in the United States.

The family requests that any memorials be given to the First United Methodist Church or to the agency of your choice.

George A. Smith and Sons North Chapel, (731) 427-5555