James Richard Maynord Jr., 87, passed away on May 30, 2026. Born April 8, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was the son of James Richard Maynord Sr. and Mae Elizabeth Love. He was raised in Hueytown, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Alabama—an achievement he carried with enduring pride, along with a faithful devotion to Alabama football. Roll tide!
James was an engineer and metallurgist whose life reflected a steady wisdom—thoughtful, measured, and grounded in a deep appreciation for learning. His interest in math and science was not merely academic, but a lifelong way of engaging the world with clarity and purpose.
In 1971, he married Jadalyn Ann Peden. Together they built a life centered on family, and they welcomed two children, Christie and Wade. In the years that followed, his love for those closest to him was unmistakable. He was proud of his family and children and grandchildren, and he made that pride known—always ready to speak more highly of their accomplishments than they ever thought of themselves.
He also carried an adventurous spirit that found its happiest expression on the open road. He enjoyed reading and traveling across the United States and Canada in their RV, embracing the quiet beauty of distance, discovery, and time shared along the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Richard Maynord Sr. and Mae Elizabeth Maynord of Hueytown, Alabama, and his sister, Doris Franklin of Tallahassee, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jadalyn Maynord of Grand Prairie, Texas; his two children, Christie (Andrew) Fowler and Wade Maynord; and six grandchildren, Ethan Maynord (Sheydi), Aaron Maynord, Teagan Burnett, Tarin Burnett, Jessica Fowler, and Michael Fowler.
