James Jefferson,

James "Big Jim" David Jefferson, Sr., 66, of Beebe, Arkansas, died Monday, June 6, 2011. He was born January 17, 1945, in Wynne, Arkansas, to the late L. C. and Mattie Jefferson. He graduated from Vandale High School in 1963. James was baptized at an early age at Caldwell Baptist Church and later moved his membership to Mt. Arratt Baptist Church in Beebe. He was retired from Union Pacific Railroad.
He is survived by his wife of forty-four years, Carolyn; three sons, Phillip Young (Rosemary) of Beebe, James Jefferson, Jr. (Amanda) of Wynne, Ross Jefferson (Annie) of North Little Rock; three daughters, Nita Chatman (Rickey) of Searcy, Tasha Whitney (Roger) of Searcy, Bridget Jefferson of Dallas, Texas; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Timothy Jefferson (Deborah) of Beebe and T. C. Jefferson of Tucker; four sisters, Betty Jean Jefferson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ruthie Jean Jefferson, Martha Haskin (James) and Christine Weeden (Charlie), all of Wynne; two aunts, Willie Mae Brown of Los Angeles, California and Carrie Moore of Parkin; and one uncle, Henderson Moore of Wynne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Amos Jefferson; and sister Maxine Aldridge.
Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Beebe First United Methodist Church, with burial in Beebe Cemetery.