James T. Steele

Jim Steele left this world Thursday, March 19, 2020 after 91 years of a life well lived. He enjoyed a long life, gave happiness to those around him, was humble, enjoyed laughter and always considered others before himself. As an early member of Broadmeadow United Methodist Church for over 60 years, he was of strong faith and led by example, an example of the best to us all.

He was born to Doddridge Hopkins Steele and Wille Mae Jones in the small lumber town of Shuqualak, MS in 1928 and had many colorful childhood stories. His mother claimed that he was actually born on July 16, but his certificate states the 10th, a hand written error in those days. He never minded the uncertainty this caused because it simply gave his family the opportunity to serve him birthday cake twice each year.

With a pharmacy degree from Ole Miss, he met and married the love of his life Lucile “Cile” Shipp from Yazoo County in 1950 and settled there with his first pharmacy job where his daughter Cindy was born. Two years later daughter Danette was born in Del Rio, Texas where he had a brief, memorable military career at Laughlin AFB…there were also many stories.

Around 1955 he and Cile moved to Jackson and his pharmacy career grew with the city. He joined with Patterson Rexall resulting in a string of neighborhood soda fountain pharmacies. His first was on North State Street across from the Baptist hospital, next to Primos Bakery, much to the delight of his daughters. As Jackson grew further out, a new Meadowbrook Mart Shopping Center was the site of his next neighborhood drugstore and later around 1960 he opened with the Pattersons at the new Highland Village Shopping Center, sandwiched between the A&P grocery store and Old Tyme Delicatessen. It was here he became a neighborhood fixture…and there were many stories.

In 1971 he joined the Mississippi Medicaid Commission where he served for 24 years. He enjoyed traveling the state to drugstores often run by his past schoolmates. And there were many stories. He had a celebrated career and retired in 1995 from the state and then got down to some serious fishing.

He found beauty driving across the state, “all you had to do was look out the window for it.” With his passion for fishing, he tried to “wet a hook" in every Mississippi pond but his love was Cile’s home place pond in Yazoo County where many people have shared his passion there with him. That was his standard invitation to everyone he met,” come on up to the pond with me and fish.”

He lost the love of his life, Cile, in 2011 but fortunately had his three girls to fill the gap, daughters Cindy Barnett and Danette Jones, and granddaughter Anna Leigh Barnett Lee. He continued an active life, fishing, traveling, and had many friends young and old, a surrogate dad and granddad to many.

He was fortunate to remain in his home especially during his last year with the selfless decision of Anna Leigh and husband, Kenny, to move in with him. She provided ‘Gramps’ not only with the best care but they enriched each other with joy everyday, sharing birdhouse projects and gardening. They grew a beautiful ending. He often commented how lucky he was to have his three girls to love and take care of him, but we were the lucky ones.

He is greatly missed by Cindy Barnett and husband Bill, Danette Jones and husband Earle, Anna Leigh Barnett Lee and husband Kenny, sister-in-law Ruth Ann Steele, cousins, nieces and nephews from Alabama to Thailand and fromYazoo County to China, all too numerous to name.

In these uncertain times we must face our loss at social distance but we will one day come through this pandemic and at the first ray of sunshine will unite and celebrate his life with many stories remembered. Until then, in lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Broadmeadow United Methodist Church, which was dear to his heart, 4419 Broadmeadow St., Jackson, MS 39206.