James Delmer Farmer entered this world on April 12, 1930, in the quaint Alder Springs community of Marshall County, Alabama, during the trying times of America's Great Depression. Born to William Robert Farmer and Minnie Belle Romines Farmer, who toiled as sharecroppers, James learned the value of hard work early on. By the tender age of nine, he was already guiding a pair of 1,400-pound mules through the cotton fields.
James' life was deeply rooted in his Christian faith. At 16, he embraced this faith wholeheartedly, being baptized during a revival in the serene waters of the Paint Rock River. At 18, with dreams in his heart, he moved to Detroit, Michigan, to live with his sister. There, he worked diligently, juggling shifts at both Chrysler and Studebaker.
At the age of 20, James married his beloved Nona Eugenia Dennis from Grant, Alabama, in a simple ceremony in Iuka, Mississippi. Their love story was soon interrupted by the call of duty, and less than four months later, James was drafted into the Army. He served bravely during the Korean War from February 1951 to January 1953, stationed in France with an engineering crew, helping build up supply depots.
After the war, James found his place at the Anniston Ordnance Depot in Bynum, Alabama, where he worked until retirement. Known for his unwavering faith, love for reading the Bible, and his kind and generous spirit, James touched many lives. In his later years, he found joy in watching westerns, especially "Gunsmoke," and solving word search puzzles.
James peacefully passed away on July 13, 2024, at the age of 94, surrounded by the love of his family at his daughter's home in Foley, Alabama, where he had spent his final five years. He now joins his parents, Robert and Minnie Farmer; his dear wife, Nona, with whom he shared nearly 69 years of marriage before her passing in 2019; his firstborn son, James Kent, who left too soon at 16 months; his son Greg, who passed in 2017; and his siblings John and Lee Farmer, Esther Kennamer, and Ruth Harper. He leaves behind cherished memories with his surviving siblings, June Dennis of Grant, Alabama, and Francis Roper of Anniston, Alabama.
James' legacy lives on through his children, Dianne Carney of Foley, Alabama, and Phillip Farmer of Lucedale, Mississippi. His grandchildren, Amy Bullock (Robert) and Jessica Sturgis (Joseph), both of Daphne, Alabama, will always remember his gentle wisdom. His great-grandchildren, Cole, Jacob, Evan, Shye-Anne Bullock, and Isla, River, and Evelyn Sturgis, will grow up hearing stories of his remarkable life.
We will gather to celebrate James' life on Thursday, August 1, at Betta-View Hills Church of Christ, located at 2140 Highway 78 W., Oxford, AL 36203. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with the funeral service following at 11:00 AM. A graveside service will take place 3 pm Thursday at Free Home Cemetery, 4505 Columbus City Road, Grant, Alabama 35747. For those who wish to honor his memory, flowers may be sent to Crestwood Funeral Home in Gadsden, Alabama.
James Delmer Farmer's life was a tapestry of faith, hard work, and love, woven with threads of kindness and generosity. His memory will forever be cherished by those who knew and loved him.