James Ray "Jim" Yarbrough

James Ray “Jim” Yarbrough, 73, of Hamburg, died Sunday, May 24, 2020, at his home.  Mr. Yarbrough was a native of Laurel, Mississippi and a resident of Hamburg for the past 39 years. Jim, as he was known by his family and friends, was a 1964 graduate of Beat Four High School in Wayne County Mississippi and then attended the University of Southern Mississippi and Pensacola Junior College. He served in the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Corpsman and was a veteran of the Vietnam conflict.  Jim was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hamburg, where he served as the sound technician for 38 years, having worked the sound system for hundreds of church services, funeral services and weddings. Going to work for the Barnes Lumber Company brought a whole other family into his life that he loved.  He had many happy memories shared with the Barnes family as they watched their business grow and be handed down from father to son to grandson. An avid music lover, Jim played a 12 string guitar and autoharp very well.  He could tell you almost anything you wanted to know about music and was a Broadway Play season ticket holder.  He loved pets and will be missed by his dogs, Axel and Atticus.  Spring was Jim’s favorite time of the year.  He enjoyed the fresh green colors on the trees and loved to grow ferns, having 30 hanging plants in the trees around his carport. Watering his plants was Jim’s outside chore until his health no longer allowed him to.  Jim enjoyed fishing but never had much luck.  He loved his wife and spoiled her, his children were his joy, he loved his daughters-in-law like his own, and he adored his grandchildren and thought they could do no wrong. Early after moving to Hamburg, Jim and Linda fell in love with a little girl they called their own, Lexie Pennington Ross was the daughter they never had.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James Walter & Roberta Gatlin Yarbrough; his step-mother, Ann Yarbrough; his grandparents, L.D. & Ellie Bodie Gatlin and Walter H. Yarber and Christine Reddoch.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Gardner Yarbrough of Hamburg; two sons, Ray Yarbrough and wife, Amy, of Crowley, Louisiana and Clyne Yarbrough of Hamburg; two sisters, Beth McMichael and husband, James, of Eucutta, Mississippi and Kim Ramsey and husband, John, of Thomasville, Alabama; his brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Ginger Gardner of Waynesboro, Mississippi; three grandchildren, Alec Yarbrough and Gauge Yarbrough both of Hamburg and Julieanna Yarbrough Jones of Katy, Texas and a former daughter-in-law, Misty Winters of Hamburg.

Graveside services are 10 a.m., Thursday, May 28, 2020 in the Hamburg Cemetery with Dr. Bobby Pennington and Rev. Ty Danielson officiating.  Pallbearers are Gene Barnes, Bobby Livingston, Eddy Tucker, Coleman Matthews, Charlie Munn and William Munn.  Honorary pallbearers are the Phil Barnes, Bob Barnes and the Employees of the Barnes Lumber Company. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 352, Hamburg, AR 71646 or to the Ashley County Museum, PO Box 27, Hamburg, AR 71646. 

Visitation will be 9:45 – 10 a.m., Thursday at the Cemetery.

Please visit the Tribute Wall to leave a message, share a memory or send your condolences to the family.  

If you would like to remotely attend this service, please click on the link below go to the Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home Facebook page to view the service via live stream at 10 a.m,. Thursday May 28, 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/joneshartshorn.funeralhome/

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