James "Rudy" Ainsworth

Visitation will be from 5:00pm until 8:00pm, Monday, June 28, 2021, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services are 10:00am, Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in the funeral home chapel, with graveside services to follow at 2:30pm at the Florence Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery in Sandersville, Mississippi.

Rudy was born January 20, 1940, in Jackson, a son of the late Edward Joe Ainsworth and Frankie Lee Sharplin Ainsworth. He served our country with the U.S. Army, and was a deputy sheriff for Hinds County, Mississippi for more than 30 years. He also owned and operated USA Tool and Hydraulics/Rudy’s Repair Service for 32 years. Rudy was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shrine Temple. In his free time he enjoyed riding his motorcycle, camping and traveling. Rudy loved to laugh and to make others laugh. Most especially, Rudy loved his family and his favorite times were spent with his beloved grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Edward Joe Ainsworth, Jr. and Richard Casper; and special sister, Rosemary Speirs.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah Gooch Ainsworth; sons, James Rudolph Smith, and James Russell Ainsworth; daughters, Teresa Gooch, and Alesa Lambert; step-son, James Steven Gooch; brothers, Robert Casper, Martin Casper, and Bill Ainsworth; sisters, Sandra Pendlebury, Diane Noon, Donna D’Aloia, Debra Casper, and Emma Ainsworth; grandchildren, April Stephenson, Mindy Shirley, Brandy Runnels, Jimmy Gooch, Jamie Smith, and Jay Smith; and great-grandchildren, Hunter Shirley, Raiden Gooch, Miles Stephenson, and Ember Smith.