Jim Ridley

Beloved Nashvillian Jim Ridley, age 50, passed away on April 8, 2016, from complications following a cardiac arrest. A gifted writer, Jim began working for the Nashville Scene in 1989 and became editor of the newsweekly in 2009. The blood of the city coursed through his veins. Jim lived, breathed, and wrote about every corner of Nashville, from its food, arts, and personalities to, especially, its music and movies. Though he was far too modest to mention it, he was recipient of many accolades. In 2006, FilmNashville awarded him the Nashy Award for his Outstanding Contributions for the Growth of Nashville’s Filmmaking Community. In 2006 and 2010, Jim was awarded first-place honors for arts criticism by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. Last year, his name was enshrined on Middle Tennessee State University College of Mass Communication’s Wall of Fame. Jim’s work has appeared in various publications, including The Village Voice, L.A. Weekly, and Variety, among others.   

Jim loved many things. He loved sitting on the porch swing and strumming his guitar while soaking in the senses and smells of a summer thunderstorm as much as he loved the feel and taste of a snowflake on his tongue, the first blooms of the dogwood, a long country drive with his family—the car windows down, the radio blaring, and the wind blowing his hair, and creek-wading with his precious kids. An avid reader, he relished reading usually four books at a time as much as reading his mail-order heirloom seed catalog. He loved to watch movies at the Belcourt Theatre, where a part of his heart will always lie. He loved watching live concerts, and you could always feel his presence either from his booming yells of excitement or his head banging to the rhythm.

Jim hated two things: being on time to anything and getting his hair cut.

Jim loved life to the fullest and was the most kind-hearted, selfless person to grace this city and perhaps this world. He always offered a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on. But of all the things he enjoyed, he most loved being with his family. Jim was a kid at heart with his children, the absolute light of his life.

Jim was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 23, 1965, to Jim Ridley IV and the late Polly (Dillon) Ridley. He is survived by his wife Alicia Adkerson, who was his best friend for 36 years; his children Kat and Jamie Ridley; brother Read “Bear” Ridley; father, Jim Ridley IV; aunt Nancy (Dillon) Howse; cousin David Artman and his wife Amy; sister-in-law Michelle Adkerson and her husband Greg Bowen; sister-in-law Tracye (Adkerson) Mayolo and her husband Mark; second cousins Dr. Florence Howse Ridley and Lee (Ridley) Fly; mother-in-law Jerrie Adkerson; father-in-law Ronnie Adkerson, and friends too numerous to name, let alone to count.

Visitation will be at First Baptist Church, 200 East Main Street, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Saturday, April 16, 9:00-11:00am, with funeral services to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes contributions be made, in his name, to the charity of your choice.

All who knew him will miss his smiling face, his spot-on puns, his infectious giggle, and, most of all, his enveloping, sincere, and uplifting bear hugs.