James Harold O’Briant, of Lula, died suddenly on Thursday July 16 at Baptist Hospital, Southaven.
Graveside services are planned for 2 p.m. Monday, July 20 at the Barbee Cemetery in Lula at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 19 at Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale. Mr. O’Briant was pre-deceased by his wife of 67 years, Maxine Jordan O’Briant. He was born in Kosciusko February 10, 1927. He was 93 years old.
He is also predeceased by his oldest son, Danny Harold O’Briant, and grandson Danny Kirk O’Briant.
He is survived by sisters, Loree Hallman and Annie Ruth Ivy. He is also survived by son, Ronnie (Susan) O’Briant of Oxford and their children Allen (Hope) and children, Colin, Lily Brooks and Hannah. Granddaughter Brooks Anne (Johnson) Berry and their children, Swayze Mack and Watts.
Kirk’s children, Gage, Maddie, Lucy Kirk and Huck and mother Jill O’Briant.
Grandson, Patrick O’Briant, (Jennifer) and their children, Brayden, Owen and Kinnley.
Daughter, Nancy Brown (Pat), Keith Harris and daughters Alexis and Gracie. Anna Lauren Baldwyn (Brooks) and daughter Anne Caroline.
O’Briant was a 32 Degree Master Mason and a veteran of World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy as a fireman. He was a member of Shriner’s Club. He was a member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and the American Legion 40 & 8. He was active in his church, Lula Baptist, serving as a deacon for many years.
He was a loving father, a role model of a husband and an honest good man who gave of himself selflessly. He served Lula as Fire Chief and as Police Chief in addition to owning and operating Lula Tractor and Auto Parts.
He will be sorely missed by his family of whom he left his mark and will be welcomed at the Pearly Gates by his most loved wife, Maxine. By those who loved him most he was referred to as Paw Paw. His humor and good nature will be missed by all.
