Visitation will be from 6-8pm on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Shannon Rose Hill Chapel, 7301 Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, February 10, 2023 at Shannon Rose Hill Chapel with the Rev. James Tucker of Deep Park First Baptist Church in Deer Park, TX officiating. Burial will follow at DFW National Cemetery.
Jim was born in Hamilton, AL to Atward “Jake” and Estelle Avis Cantrell Aldridge on December 29, 1943. He went to school in Hamilton and in Haines City, FL. On August 7, 1966, Jim married Melba Avery. He graduated from Baptist Bible Institute of Graceville, FL; William Carey College of Hattiesburg, MS; and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with two Master's degrees. Jim was a Southern Baptist minister for churches in Alabama, the Cayman Islands, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, and Pennsylvania for 35 years. He was also a veteran in the United States Army and served in West Berlin. Jim especially enjoyed being part of summer youth camps as he served various churches, and was affectionately known as “Sarge” or “PJ."
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, A. V. Aldridge and Bobby Aldridge.
Jim is survived by his wife of 56 years, Melba; his children, Sonia (Tim) Plue of Fort Worth, and Jeremy Aldridge, Ashland, PA; one sister, Lola Elliott of Haines City, FL; three granddaughters (Grace, Sarah, and Kylie), one grandson (Jacob), all of whom he was so proud and enjoyed immensely, and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Christopher Schroeder, Rick Kauffman, Billy Mitchell, Larry Flinn, Hector Gonzalez, and Ronnie Popham.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations in Jimmy's name be made to either the Baptist Global Response, Inc. or to the Hardrock Charlie Foundation to assist the soldiers of 1 Batt, 75th Ranger Regiment.
The family of Jimmy wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Avalon Alzheimer's Care in Arlington, for the loving care he received in “Lucy's house," and to the many family members and friends who were so diligent in praying for him and his family. Alzheimer's claimed his body, but he now has a new body in heaven and is free to sing again!
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shannonrosehill.com for the Aldridge family.
