James Thomas Grantham Jr

He was born on May 30, 1949, at the Old Baptist Hospital in Jackson to J. T. Grantham and Ruby Landfair Grantham. Tom was the first baby to be born with the new emergency lighting at the Old Baptist Hospital.

Tom graduated from Provine High School in 1967 where he was named National Merit Finalist and “Most Dependable”. It was in the eleventh grade at Provine where he met and started dating Teena Wells upon collaborating on The Rambler.

Tom attended Belhaven University in Jackson on a tennis scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Upon graduating Belhaven University, Tom served in the Mississippi Air National Guard as navigator on a C-130 aircraft.

On August 23, 1970, Tom and Teena married at Alta Woods Methodist Church in Jackson. They lived in Sacramento, California, throughout his military service. Upon completing his military service, Tom and Teena moved to Jackson.

After associations in a number of different accounting firms, Tom collaborated with Jim Poole in 1999 to form GranthamPoole, one of Mississippi’s largest accounting firms. Tom earned the designation of Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and in 1998 became one of the first CPAs in the United States to earn the designation Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV). Tom lead by example and valued his co-workers immensely.

Tom enjoyed time with family and friends, and this was evident in his many adventures in travel. He could always be counted on as a travel planner, whether it was travel to Europe and driving on the left side of the road or just a fun day on the Okatoma River. He also enjoyed golf, tennis, and coaching youth sports.

Tom valued his community deeply and served on the boards of Belhaven University, MS Chapter of Financial Planners, North Jackson Youth Baseball, MS Planned Giving Council, and Jackson Kiwanis Club.

Tom and Teena were faithful members of First Baptist Church of Jackson. Tom served as a Life Deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He was a very caring person--always thinking of others. His faith and optimism were major components of getting him through Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was always bold and faithful in sharing Jesus with anyone he knew, for he recognized that Jesus was the Way, the Truth, and the Light of the World. He especially loved Psalm 100.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Tom was predeceased by his parents; sister, Nancy Grantham Horz; mother and father-in-law, Alvin Bryce Wells and Ernestine Love Wells.

Tom is survived by his wife Teena; his son David Wells Grantham and his daughter Bethany Grantham Powers; his daughter-in-law, Mary Katherine Harkins Grantham; his son-in-law, Jason Michael Powers, each of whom lovingly cared for him through his life. He was the loving grandfather of Alison Marie Powers, James Gammon Grantham, Michael Grantham Powers, and Wells Patrick Grantham. Tom is also survived by his older sister Elizabeth Ann Grantham; brothers-in-law, Alvin Bryce Wells and Raymond Horz; nieces and nephews, Victoria Wells Liberto, Margaret Claire Wells Hogue, and Andrew Raymond Horz.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Ruth Fredericks, Dr. Vanessa Sandifer, Dr. Tim Cannon, Dr. Sam Peeples, Brandi Nickles, and all the helpful nurses at Sta-Home and Methodist Rehab. Many many thanks to Gloria Stone and Phillip Coleman for all of their love and care the past few years.

Visitation will be held at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi, on Sunday, December 11, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, at 11:00a.m. on Monday, December 12, 2016. A celebration of life service will follow immediately at 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church. A graveside service will precede the visitation at 9:00 a.m. at Parkway Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Jackson Children’s Ministry Fund, ALS Association of Mississippi, or Gideons International.