James was born on October 16. 1930 in Cotton Valley, La to Walter & Katie Skaggs. He was a blue-eyed, red-haired boy & number five out of seven.
He was raised in Rodessa, La. and known by all as Red. In High School he was named Captain of both his football and basketball team. As a teenager Jimmy accepted Jesus as his Savior.
Later He joined the Navy Reserve and served for four years.
Jimmy married the girl of his dreams, Nannie Joyce Knowles, in 1950 in Bossier City, La. In 1955 they moved to Pensacola, Fl. to raise their three sons, Terry, Ricky and Steve. He was in the banking industry for many years and retired from Pensacola Junior College in 2000.
He was a Sunday School teacher at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church and was also a deacon and treasurer at Santa Rosa Shores Baptist Church. Jimmy's hobbies included LSU sports, golf, cards, playing with his grandchildren, hanging with friends, and drinking coffee at the YMCA. He was a loving husband to his wife Joyce and a great Dad to his three boys. To top it all off, he was the best storyteller to many.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Walter and Katie Skaggs; brothers, Jack, Jute, Dee; sister, Kathleen; grandson, Jason and his best friends, John Akin and Henry Willett.
Jimmy loved his family dearly & is survived by his wife, Joyce of 75 years of marriage; sons, Terry (Kathy), Ricky (Mary) and Steve (Mel); brother, Ronnie Skaggs (Fran) and his sister Donnie Bretherton (Bill). Leaving behind nine grandchildren, Laura, Sarah, Scotty, Joseph, Susannah, John, Katie, Ann and Helena; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Many thanks for the outstanding and professional service given by People's Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Santa Rosa Shores Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, following the visitation.
BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements.
