James Michael "Mike" Nolan, Sr.

James Michael “Mike” Nolan, Sr. died on Monday, August 11, 2025 after a long battle with diabetes, kidney failure, COPD, and other health issues. He lived life wholeheartedly on kidney dialysis for 14 years.

Mike was born on October 3, 1950, to Joseph M. “Pat” and Dorothy Regan Nolan of Yazoo County, Mississippi. His earliest childhood was spent in Yazoo City, but the family soon bought a 200-acre farm near Benton, MS. Mike and his ten brothers and sisters were all raised there. The family was active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Mike served as an acolyte. He attended St. Clara Elementary School in Yazoo City, and then Benton Jr. High and High Schools, graduating in 1968. Mike attended Holmes County Jr. College for two years and then participated in the Work Study Program at Mississippi State University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1974, alternating semesters of study with work at the International Paper Mill in Pensacola, FL. Upon graduation he worked in the paper industry in Mobile, AL and southern Mississippi. In 1980, he joined Texas Eastern Oil Company and was transferred to Shreveport, LA. When Texas Eastern moved to Houston, Mike stayed in Shreveport and went back to the paper industry, this time in the sales department. He worked for Allied Chemical, BASF, Cyanimid, Henkel and Hercules Chemical Companies covering territories ranging from southern Missouri and Oklahoma to east Texas and southwestern Mississippi. He won numerous awards for outstanding sales including national salesman of the year multiple times.

It was during this time that he married Virginia Taglialavore of Shreveport, and they had one son, James Michael Nolan II, of whom he was most proud. When Mike’s kidneys began to fail and he went on dialysis, instead of staying home and being disabled, he went to work in the automotive sales business. He worked for several dealerships in Shreveport, most recently at Morgan Buick GMC. He later joined Providus Financial Services in Shreveport in their Health Insurance Department. He retired in 2021. Mike was a Ham Radio Operator and this hobby allowed him to make friends all over the country. He was an excellent marksman and enjoyed organizing hunting trips for his paper mill customers.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Patrick (Lucy) Nolan and Tommy (Cindy) Nolan, both of Georgia, and Paul Nolan of Yazoo City, Mississippi; and one great-nephew, Harrison Paul Nolan, of Manchester, Georgia.

He is survived by his son, James Nolan II, of Shreveport; and, his current wife, Leslie Nolan, of Shreveport. He is also survived by three sisters: Laurissa (Alan) Henderson of Madison, MS, Amanda (Fred) Ross of Vicksburg, MS, and Margueritte Nolan of Belle Chase, LA. His surviving brothers are: Tim (Nanette) Nolan of Benton, MS, Peter (Barbara) Nolan of Manchester, GA, Chuck (Sarah) Nolan of Brandon, MS and John (Jennifer) Nolan of Bardstown, KY. Mike has 18 wonderful nieces and nephews, and, (at last count) 17 precious great-nieces and nephews.

Services will be held in both Shreveport, LA and in Yazoo County, MS. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 6012 Youree Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana. A Celebration of Life and Scattering of Ashes will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Benton Methodist Church, Benton, Mississippi. Mike loved the city and people of Shreveport, making his home here for almost 50 years. After saying farewell to his adopted home in the Ark-La-Tex, his ashes will be returned to the family homeplace on Nolan Road in Benton, Mississippi, where he will rejoin the land that nurtured so many Nolans over the years and has always been a part of his heart and soul.