Jimmy McClain

Jimmy Jones McClain passed away peacefully at his home on January 5th, just months after celebrating his 94th birthday. Jimmy was born on August 20, 1931, to Felix and Minnie McClain, one of eight children, and grew up fast in the midst of the Great Depression. When he was eleven, his father (only forty-two) was killed in a railroading accident. In the aftermath of this calamity, Jimmy took upon himself the responsibility of being the man of the house, ingraining in him a protective tendency that would forever define him.

Even though he carried the brunt of responsibility at home growing up, he still participated in normal childhood activities. He was a great athlete, in basketball and football, receiving the medal for “best all around athlete” his senior year at Haylong High School. Jimmy was selected by faculty to attend Boys State his junior year. His daughter, Debbie, attended Girls State and Taylor followed the legacy of being chosen to attend Boys State also. After graduation he attended Columbia Military Academy on a football scholarship for postgraduate education.

Adversity is said to be the best teacher of skills, and that proved true with Jimmy. He knew how to do everything. And no, that is not hyperbolic in any sense. He was smart, clever with his hands, and good with people, and this served him well. But then, 1950 arrived and with it the proclamation of war in Korea. Jimmy was drafted. He served stateside in the United States Marine Corps. Because of his ‘fix-it’ abilities, he made for just about the best company clerk that ever was, and this was probably the thing that kept him home and out of the frontlines.

The war ended and he returned to normal life. He married Marie Brady and they had two daughters, Debbie and Lori. He worked at Hooker Chemical Company, Stauffer Chemical, and retired from Zeneca. Jimmy was the man you called for everything. Day or night, call Jimmy McClain and he would show up. This wasn’t solely limited to his job, this was something that was town-wide. Air conditioning broken? Call Jimmy. Need someone to crawl under your house and figure out what’s wrong with the plumbing? JJ is your man. He once rescued people from flooding houses and fiery infernos, made tourniquets that saved limbs at the scene of accidents, and all of that probably happened before his daily six o’clock gathering at the local McDonald’s to shoot the breeze over coffee with his buddies. His hobbies were many, and ranged from building and remodeling homes to trading stocks and options. He could always be found on Sundays in a pew at Mount Joy Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he was the oldest official member of the congregation. He shared the gospel through his kindness and helpfulness every day!

Jimmy was a man of few words. Anyone who knew him knew this, but they also knew that if he had something to say, those shoulders would start shrugging and a look would pass over his face that seemed to say, “If y’all would just stop talking for a minute I have something to contribute.”

Jimmy was adored by his family. He was always there, steadfast and true.

He is survived by his wife- Marie Brady McClain, his children- Debbie (Mickey) Allen, Lawrenceburg, TN, Lori (Mike) Waugh, Columbia, TN, grandchildren- Taylor (Anna Catherine) Allen, Birmingham, AL, Anna (Kaleb) Dillard, Birmingham, AL, great grandson- Ben Dillard (and Davis Allen, due next month), and sister Pat LeDoux, Woodbury, TN.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Felix Martin McClain and Minnie Johnson McClain, and siblings- Malcolm McClain, Elaine Chirtel, Carmen Jones, Forrest McClain, Mack McClain, and Zula McClain.

Pallbearers: Mickey Allen, Mike Waugh, Taylor Allen, Kaleb Dillard, Davis Duffy and Sam Duffy.

A service for Jimmy will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Williams Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee with Mark King officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 10:00 AM to the start of the service in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee. Jimmy will be laid to rest at McClain Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee. 

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences can be given to the family at williamsfh.com.