James A. “Jack” Weatherspoon

Homewood

Jack Weatherspoon was born in Hickman County, Tenn., on Feb. 11, 1927, and died on Nov. 3, 2012. He was the oldest of six children born to B.D. and Georgia Weatherspoon and is the first sibling to pass away.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Weatherspoon; sisters, Leona Burnett (Bill), Jane Leconte and Onida Leech (Sam); brothers, Jim Weatherspoon (Reba) and Hubert Weatherspoon (Janice), all of Tennessee. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict. It was on a furlough visit to Alabama with his army friend, Hugh Stone, that he met Peggy and, as they say, the rest is history. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. After they married, they lived in Missouri for five years and then moved to Homewood, where he owned Jack’s Appliance Service. He later became the chief engineer at South Highlands Hospital until he retired in 1989.

Jack and Peggy had no children of their own but there were many nieces, nephews and friends who thought they were their children. Jack had a way to make each one think he or she was his favorite. He gave them tough love when it was needed, but he gave them heart love all the time. And there might have been one who really was his favorite – his great-niece, Samantha Leech, who is now fourteen, has been blind since birth. He loved her greatly and one of his last wishes was “take care of Samantha.” Because of this, Peggy feels the best memorial to Jack would be a gift to Samantha for the special needs she will have during her life. Gifts may be sent to “Jack Weatherspoon Memorial Fund,” P.O. Box 316, Burns, TN 37029.

Visitation was Nov. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Bolton Funeral Home in Columbiana. Funeral service will be Nov. 5 at noon at Bolton Funeral Home and burial will follow at the cemetery at Fourmile Baptist Church where he was a member.