James “Jimmy” Curtis Lackey passed away on April 15, 2024 at 11:30 am in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He was born on October 1, 1949 in Jackson, MS to Mr. Raymond Kent Lackey and Mrs. Elizabeth Barron Lackey. He worked with his father in his LP gas business before taking a job with Stribling Puckett Machinery, where he learned diesel mechanics. He married Lynda Holland in 1973 and adopted her two young children. The family later moved to Petal, MS, where he worked for Puckett Machinery before starting his own successful diesel mechanic business, Lackey Equipment. He had contracts with several companies, including AAA Ambulance and Hattiesburg Grocery. After a severe automotive accident caused him to be unable to continue his business, he retired.

In his earlier years, Jimmy enjoyed drag racing and riding dirt bikes. Later in his life, he loved hunting, collecting guns, fishing, and spending time with family. He spent over 20 years serving his community as the Sunrise Volunteer Fire Department’s fire chief. He devoted much of his life to the department, even donating land and building the department’s Station #2.

After moving to Petal, Jimmy and his family attended Petal Harvey Baptist Church. Several years later, they attended Calvary Baptist Church in Petal, MS, where he was active in the mission field, drove the church bus, and sang in the choir. His passion to share the Good News and the Word of God led him to his own ministry. Many people all across Mississippi got the privilege of seeing the “Jesus trailer,” a small cargo trailer with Jesus holding a man spray painted on three sides, pass by them on highways, interstates, and backroads as he traveled through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, the community he served, his friends, and his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Kent Lackey, Jr.; his mother, Elizabeth Barron Lackey; and his brother, Kenneth Ray Lackey. He is survived by his brother, Ernest Lackey of Florence, MS; his former spouse of 37 years, Lynda Holland Lackey of Lumberton, MS; his daughter, Kimberly Lackey Richardson (Pepper Richardson) of Sumrall, MS; his son, Robert “Kirby” Lackey (Carla Lackey) of Richton, MS; his three granddaughters, Kristin Ashley James (Kevin Mattice) of Hattiesburg, MS, Valerie Nicole Tatum (Steven Tatum) of Brandon, MS, and Jamie Stafford Brunet (Chris Brunet) of Moselle, MS; and his three great-grandchildren, Nicholas “Luka” Mattice, Owen Samuel Brunet, and Parker Bailey Tatum.

He will be laid to rest at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson, MS. The family will hold a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be to UMMC Children’s of Mississippi, UMMC Mississippi Burn Center, Homes of Hope for Children, American Heart Association, Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, EnHabit Cares, and/or your local volunteer fire department.

“It’s not about me. It’s about Him (Jesus).”