James “Jimmy” Roscoe Brittain, Jr.

April 12, 2018

James “Jimmy” Roscoe Brittain, Jr., age 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 5, 2018, following a lengthy illness.

Jimmy was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Around the age of 11 or 12 he met his lifelong friend Billy Andrews.  Jimmy, Norma Jean, Billy, and Katherine all crossed the Alabama state line into Columbus, Mississippi and eloped in 1953.  He threw papers in Tuscaloosa until he was 18, at which time he and Norma Jean moved to Pensacola.  That was in 1956 and he was hired at Chemstrand , which later became Monsanto. He retired from Monsanto after 35 plus years and was a husband to his childhood sweetheart Norma Jean Brittain for 64 years. They spent many a happy day at the beach or around a ball field.

He was a member of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church since 1963.  Jimmy coached baseball, football and softball for many years at Myrtle Grove ballpark.  He, along with his good friend, Arthur Miller, were instrumental in starting T-ball at Myrtle Grove. Jimmy also helped coach softball at Escambia High School in the early 80’s and spent many volunteer hours working on the fields and doing just about anything that needed doing through 2012. He was also a member of the Pensacola Harley club and enjoyed riding on the group rides for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James (Pop) Roscoe Brittain, Sr and Clara Mae (Noland) Brittain; brothers, Eugene Brittain and John Brittain; In-laws, A. L. Kelley and Pauline Kelley; Brother in-laws, James Chester Kelley, Allan Kelley, and Johnny Campbell; Sister in-law, Jean Brittain.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Norma Jean; children, James Roscoe Brittain ,III (Jani), Terry Lance Brittain, and Cheryl Brittain Peters (Doug);grandchildren, Kelley Hise (Jason), Neil Brittain(Natalie), Brittainy Peters, and Ashley Peters; great-grandchildren, Hayley and Nicholas Hise; sister in-laws, Billie Joyce Campbell, Mary Kelley, Susan Kelley, and Jerrie Brittain,  and many nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the nurses and doctors of Covenant Hospice Sacred Heart, Dr. David Mann and his nurse Jane, Dr. Thomas Sunnenberg and his nurse Shannon, and Dr. Stephen Willis.

Active pallbearers are Robert Smith, Richard Solchenberger, Otey Infinger, Bill Kimball, Ken Richmond, and Neil Thorsen.

Honorary pallbearers are Billy Andrews and family, Ron Lowe, Bob Graf, Chuck Keistler, James Jowers, his Monsanto Co-workers, and all of his former baseball, football, and softball players.

Saturday, April 14th at Myrtle Grove Baptist church visitation will be from noon to 1 pm followed by the funeral service. Graveside will follow at Bayview Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Myrtle Grove Baptist Church.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with arrangements.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries