Mr. Jim Caulkins Sr

James N. "Jim" Caulkins, Sr., of Florence, MS, age 88, died peacefully at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland with his family by his side on Saturday, August 11, 2018.The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 18 from 1:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. Celebration of Life Service at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence. Jim was born in Mason, Michigan, July 12, 1930, son of Loretta Meek Caulkins and James Oren Caulkins. He was preceded in death by six siblings, Luanna Carpenter, Maxine Church, Frank Church, Emma Jean Tikkanen, Robert Caulkins and Charles Caulkins. Jim joined the US Army Air Force in November 1946 at age 16 and was honorably discharged from the US Air Force in December 1955 after serving in both World War II and the Korean War. He was stationed in various locations including Adak AFB in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Lakenheath England, Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS, and Andrews AFB in Maryland. He was in the Weather Obversation Squad, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant at time of discharge. While he was stationed at Keesler AFB, he met a Simpson County girl, Martha Gordon, on a blind date and married her on June 5, 1954. They moved to Maryland for a short time then returned to Mississippi, to further their education. Jim only finished ninth grade in high school in Michigan. Upon discharge, he earned his GED and attended Hinds Junior College, graduating as Valedictorian. He then attended the University of Mississippi, receiving his bachelor’s degree in business-major of accounting in 1958, then receiving his master’s in business in 1959. He worked as accountant in Houston, TX, Meridian, MS and Clinton, MS, working for MS Dept of Law Enforcement, and Cook Construction Co. After retirement, he still worked at various tax offices, Shanks Communications, Hankins Air Service and Mississippi Aero, Incorporated. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, attending baseball games, and fishing. He enjoyed talking about his military service with his grandson and talking politics with everyone. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha E. Gordon Caulkins; his children, Cindy Yelverton and her husband Marshall, and James N. Caulkins, Jr.; his grandchildren Cory Yelverton and Jesse Yelverton; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Hospice Ministries and Brandon Court Nursing Home, and the doctors, nurses and aides at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center for the compassionate care they gave our husband and father during his stays at those facilities. The family will receive friends at 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2018, followed by a memorial service at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Homebound Ministry at First Baptist Church, Florence, 102 E. Main St., Florence, MS, 39073.