James William “J.W.” Hearn passed away Sunday, Dec. 30, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 93 years old.

J.W. was born June 12, 1925, in the Oak Ridge community of Vicksburg, to the late William Horace Hearn and late Eliza Redditt Hearn. He was raised in Vicksburg and served his country as a rifleman in the U.S. Army during WWII. He then worked and retired from the city of Vicksburg as a fire fighter. He then worked and retired from the Corps of Engineers as a carpenter on the Mat Sinking Unit. He spent several years of his retirement as a resident of Mountain View, Arkansas, before moving back to Vicksburg in 2016.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by eight siblings, William Hearn, Herman Hearn, Herbert (Sambo) Hearn, Lester Hearn, Excell Hearn, Clifton Ray Hearn, Geneva Brent and Eva Mae Ward, all from the Oak Ridge community. He was also preceded in death by three wives, Florence Pierce Hearn Jenkins, Helen Williamson Hearn and Betty Everett Hearn, all of Vicksburg.

J.W. is survived by five children, Janice Hearn Mitchell (James Ray) of Holcomb, Nina Abbott McBee (David) of Anderson, South Carolina, Terry Hearn Holman, William Hearn (Lisa), and Anthony Hearn (Missy), all of Vicksburg, two stepchildren, Robert Everett (Lollie) of Brandon, and Sheila Franco (Sammy) of Oxford, and 14 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jay Mitchell, Greg Mitchell, Brad Abbott, Dustin Abbott, Eric Abbott, Blake Birdsong, Bowen Hearn and Chase Hearn. Honorary pallbearers will be Douglas Hearn, Dean Hearn, Jesse Brent, Billy Brent, Harvey Brent, Hank Hearn and Phares Griffin.

Special thanks and appreciation to the caregivers who sat with him and cared for him these past few years. 

Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at 9 a.m. with the service following at 11 a.m. at Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg. Dustin Abbott will officiate the service with a graveside service following at Green Acres Cemetery.