James Michael "Jim" Highfield

James (Jim) Michael Highfield, 81, was born on February 12, 1944, in Maysville (Mason County), Kentucky, and died at his home in the Shores of Long Bayou in St. Petersburg, Florida, on November 15, 2025. He was the son of the late James C. Highfield and Thelma L. (Mers) Highfield of Maysville, Kentucky.

Jim grew up in Maysville, Kentucky, as part of a close-knit family whose roots extended deeply into Mason and Fleming counties. After graduating from Maysville High School in 1962, he enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University before proudly serving his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, and his military service remained one of the defining honors of his life.

After returning from Vietnam, Jim built a life centered on hard work, humility, and devotion to both career and family. He began his career in telecommunications with GTE in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before transferring to Lexington, Kentucky. He later worked for General Radio (GenRad) and relocated to Brandon, Mississippi. Jim finished his career with Verizon, the company formed through the merger of GTE and Bell Atlantic, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He loved the warm Florida weather and chose to remain in St. Petersburg during his retirement.

Jim was known for his quiet strength, gentle spirit, and the deep kindness he extended to everyone he met. His easy sense of humor and natural gift for conversation meant that he never met a stranger. He genuinely enjoyed talking with people and had a remarkable ability to make others feel seen and valued. Jim enjoyed many hobbies, including computer programming, woodworking, carving, and painting. He also had a lifelong love of cars. In addition to owning several classic cars over the years, he later became fascinated with self-driving electric vehicles. Above all, he loved bragging about his grandson to anyone who would listen.

Jim is survived by his son, Michael J. Highfield (Shelley) of Madison, Mississippi; his grandson, Tyler M. Highfield, a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and his brothers, David L. Highfield (Nadine) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Myron R. Highfield (Paula) of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his parents and his infant sister, Mary Louise Highfield.

A burial with military honors will take place at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida, at 11:00 AM on December 18, 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, two causes meaningful to Jim.

Jim will be remembered for his service to his country, his generosity, his sense of humor, and the warmth he brought into the lives of all who knew him. He was a genuinely good man, a great dad, and a proud American.