On Friday, September 11, 2026, Reverend James Clifford Walters, of Hollandale, Mississippi, passed from this life into God’s presence at the age of 42. He was born in Palm Springs, California and moved to Columbia, Mississippi in 1998 at the age of 14. His first jobs were with The Marion Theater in Columbia and The Grand Theater in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he worked and managed. Growing up on a military base in California, in a military family built a strong sense of patriotism and love of country. At a young age, James developed a heart for God and was called into the Gospel Ministry. He served Edna Baptist Church as an assistant Youth Pastor and later he served as Youth Pastor with Sandy Hook Methodist Church, now Grace Chapel. Preparing for his work in ministry, James received a Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University and earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. With his dry wit and great sense of humor, he never met a stranger. He was skilled at leather working and knife making, but his passion and calling was for mentoring youth in their faith. James was an ordained Pastor with The Global Methodist Church and formerly served as the Pastor of Carson, Good Hope, and Lone Star Methodist Churches. Currently, he was the Pastor of Avon and Glen Allen Methodist Churches in Washington County, Mississippi. Though the grief over his sudden passing is great, his family and friends are comforted in the knowledge that James is worshiping at the feet of his Lord and that one day they will join him in the fullness of God’s Glory.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Jesse and Gerry Weedman; his paternal grandfather, Charles Walters, and his brother, Richard Weedman. James is survived by his father, Douglas Walters; his mother, Jane White; his paternal grandmother, Janet Walters; his stepfather, Tim Thornburgh (Lisa); his best friend, Charlie Laird (Amanda) and their children, Toby, Leslie, Thomas, and Lily who loving referred to him as Uncle James; and his beloved cat, Grace.
There will be a funeral service to celebrate the life of Reverend James Walters at Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia, Mississippi on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 11:00am. Friends may visit with the family from 9:00am until service time The service will be officiated by Reverend Charlie Laird and James will be laid to rest in the Richland Creek Church of God Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the James Walters Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Cheryl Prather, P.O. Box 647, Senatobia, MS 38668. Also, contributions can be made online at: ms-wtngmc.org
