James Ottis Spence, of Tylertown, MS passed away Tuesday, August 15, 2023 in Tylertown,MS.

James was born October 22, 1939 to the late Ottis and Eunice Christine Wallace Spence. James was a member of Elkhorn Tabernacle in Elk Horn, KY.

James was a sweet, gentle man. He was a devout Christian and minister that loved God and loved talking to others about God. He loved to sing, play the guitar, and read the Bible. He would sing at church and would also bless family and other listening ears around him at random times with his ability to do so. He loved helping people, he was a hardworking man that worked with his hands and always said that he was the type of person that you wanted working for you but not the person that you wanted to work for. He loved eating good food, and spending time with his family and friends. He loved hunting and fishing and being in the company of the people that he loved while doing so.

He was kind and always willing to help even when he was not able-bodied. He was tender-hearted and talked about how much of a blessing it is to be able to feel so much. He loved to laugh and to try to get a laugh out of the people around him. He was the type of man that kept up with everybody's birthdays on a piece of paper hung up in his kitchen so that he would be able to mail you a card and some cash on your special day every year. He lived a long life and spent every day of it doing his best to make sure that everybody was loved and doing well and would one day make it to Heaven with him.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Ottis and Eunice Wallace Spence, his brother Lealon Spence, his sisters Eva Nell Pittman, Florence Barlow, and Mary Jo Brumfield. He is survived by his sons James Ottis Spence Jr., Thomas Spence (Shanell), his daughters Nancy McCain (Billy), Robbie Puder (Mike), his sister Syble Mullins, his brother Danny Spence (Sheila) his grandchildren James Ottis Spence III, Amber Spence, Michael Ard, Kayla Puder, Lucy Puder, Tristan Alford, Ethan Spence, Brooklyn Spence, Taylor Alford, Gracin Spence, his great grandchildren, Kayla R. Spence, Kylie R. Spence, Landon Spence, Roman Spence, Connor Ard, Alainah Frazier and an abundance of nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers will be Lealon Spence Jr., Robbie McEwen, Thomas Ward, Mike Puder, Bobby Cheeks, and Mickey McDaniel. Honorary pallbearers will be James Ottis Spence III, Tristan Alford, Ethan Spence, Gracin Spence, Michael Ard, Caleb Cheeks, Danny Spence, Anthony Spence, and Ottis Spence.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 from 12 noon until funeral service at 2:00 PM at Hartman-Hughes Funeral Home at 412 Beulah Ave., Tylertown, Mississippi. Burial will follow in Spence Cemetery. Brother Mark Wicker will officiate. Hartman Hughes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.