Jimmie Oglesby Obituary

Jimmie Oglesby

Jackson - Jimmie Lee Oglesby passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 22, 2020 in Jackson, MS. He was born in 1926 in Florence, MS, and was a native Mississippian who only left his beloved state to follow his career. He is predeceased by his wife Jeanne Colbert Oglesby, his parents William Rodney and Nell Therrell Oglesby, his brothers, Walter Eugene Oglesby and John Therrell Oglesby, and his grandson, Matthew Weis.

Jimmie is survived by his four children: Linda Moore (Derrall), Patricia Weis (Tim), Lee Oglesby, and Ginger Coleman (Larry); his grandchildren: Jeff Weis, Ramsey Bell, Betsy Bell Hartman, Sarah Beth Taylor, Anna Claire Oglesby, and Mary Grace Oglesby; and 8 great-grandchildren.

He graduated from Central High School in 1943. Following service during World War II in the Army Air Corps Jimmie married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Colbert, and attended Mississippi State University where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Jimmie began a 30-year career with Graybar Electric Co. Upon retirement, he returned to Mississippi where he spent his final years establishing three companies serving the telephone and cable industry. He also designed and patented several cable-related devices.

Jimmie was a member of Elk, Rotary, Fraternal Order of Masons, Shriners, Jesters, Patrick Henry Memorial, and the Order of First Families of Mississippi. He and Jeanne were members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and traveled the world extensively, but always swore there was no finer thrill than returning home to Mississippi.

A family graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of a memorial, Jimmie requests that you take your sons fishing, your daughters to the ballet and your wife on vacation, and that you love your God, your family and your country.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Clarion Ledger from Jun. 23 to Jun. 28, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Jimmie Oglesby

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3 Entries

Michael Cooke

July 13, 2020

I was fortunate to work and travel with Mr. Jim Oglesby for a few years in the late 2000s. On our first business trip together, he insisted on taking my picture, as he did at all customer meetings, with his small digital camera. A week or so later he snail-mailed me printed copies of all the pictures he had taken throughout our trip. This was his personal touch on what would otherwise be another garden-variety week of travel.

The morning of our initial meeting he called me to confirm the time, and I told him 10:00. Jim said we needed to arrive at 9:00. When I asked why we would get there so early, he replied That gives us time to walk around the office/warehouse and politick.

Although he was easily the most senior person working in telecommunications at the time, Jim was non-stop, driving thousands of miles and meeting with dozens of my customers and their staff, never once looking tired in any meeting. He clearly had more energy than some folks half his age!!

My wife and I sent him a Christmas card every year, and when he could no longer write back, he would call us when the card hit his mailbox.
He was always a Gentleman, and it was a true pleasure to be around Jim.
I was honored to be associated with a man of his high caliber.
Michael Cooke, Woodstock, Ga.

Amanda Felts

June 29, 2020

I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. I worked with Jim through his partnership with Austin Electrical Enclosures. I can boldly and assuredly say that humanity has lost a true gentleman. I pray that his legacy lives on through everyone that was so blessed to know him. I know that I, personally, was greatly impacted by his kind spirit as well as his tenacity. Jim leaves behind a legacy of work ethic, respect, and a genuine love for his fellow man. May we all aspire to follow the example that he set for us. He will be greatly missed.

Claire Dickerson

June 25, 2020

Jimmie and Jean were our next door neighbors ( on Ridge Dr) for over 20 years. She was an avid gardner and loved being in the yard. After she passed away, I began to visit Jimmie just over the hedge as he had become mostly housebound. We had great visits and both loved birdwatching. They were wonderful neighbors and I was sad to say goodbye to Jimmy when we moved to another city. He gave us a small Japanese Maple tree which Jean had planted. We have it still, growing strong in our new yard. I think of Jimmy every time I ask my husband how is the Jean Tree doing? He was a great person and we send our condolences.

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