Mr. James Daniel Ried

Mr. James Daniel Ried, Sr. was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, "take charge" attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. James always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, James was an individual who enjoyed life's challenges.

       His parents were James Emmit Ried and Dorothy Hope Raymond Ried and was raised in California and Arkansas. Always able to express himself well, James possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, James was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

      Blessed with a balanced attitude, James was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. James was raised with two sisters, Dottie and Peggy. James had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

      As a young child, James showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. James enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in little league baseball and in his spare time he liked surfing, woodworking, hunting and bicycle riding. James' memorable achievements included learning to play the guitar and owning the first 12 speed bicycle in California.

      Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, James was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math.

      Friends and acquaintances found James an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. James was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Curtis and also Roy Burrow, Jr. Later in life, he became friends with Danny Whitehead, Debbie Whitehead, Patsy Meadows and David Fullilove.

       James married Sylvia Fullilove Fant in Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 25, 1991. James was attentive to Sylvia's feelings, and he charmed Sylvia and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, James was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

      Very much like a kid himself, James identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children's personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. James was blessed with six children, Charley, Nathan, James, Shannon, Melissa and Pamela. They were also blessed with 12 grandchildren, Charley Jr., Kristin, Taiyler, Kaitlyn, Joshua, David, Dylan, Saffire, Emma, Gracie, David and Nathan Jr.

      James was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, James's strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, James was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. James could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was owning a bowling alley but also worked as a technician, shop foreman, service manager, owned 18 wheeler trucks and owned a truck stop.

      James was a Navy veteran and was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He served in the Vietnam War and served as a service mechanic. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

      James enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were fishing, traveling, camping, bowling, boating and listening to country music. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Because he liked to take risks, James was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, James played baseball. James was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball.

      James was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, James worked steadily to meet any organization's goals. Throughout his later years, James was an active member of the Jackson Bowling Association and Metro Bowling Proprietors Association of America.

      James held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member Flowood United Methodist Church. During that time, he was Lay Leader and also served on many different committees in the church.

      Travel and vacations were experiences that James truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of "live and let live." He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included cruises, several trips to Las Vegas, Branson, Missouri, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

      James was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of James's favorites was Trinity, a German Shepherd. His family was rounded out by his Schnauzer named Brandy and another Schnauzer named Maggie.

      When James's retirement finally came in 2007, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, he found new pleasure in taking care of his wife Sylvia and shopping at Hudson's.

      James passed away on November 20, 2009 at University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is survived by his wife Sylvia Fant Ried of Pearl; sons Nathan Ried, Sr. and wife Sommer of Flowood, Charley Ried, Sr. and wife Elaine of North Little Rock, AR and James Ried, Jr. of Little Rock, AR; daughters Shannon Ried Cooper of Little Rock, AR, Melissa Fagan and husband Troy and Pamela Malone and husband Bryan all of Pearl; grandchildren Nathan Ried, Jr., Charley Ried, Jr., Taiyler Ried, Kaitlyn Ried, Kristin Thomason, Gracie Fagan, David Cooper, Dylan Hamblin, Saffire Henson, Emma Henson, Joshua Ried and Meghan Malone; great-grandchild Skyy Thomason; and sister Dottie Bradley of Charleston, West Virginia. Services were held at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Chapel in Pearl, Mississippi on November 23, 2009 at 2:00 PM. James was laid to rest in Floral Hills Memory Gardens.

      James was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If James had a theme song written about him, it might well have been "Don't Worry, Be Happy." He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Mr. James Daniel Ried, Sr.