Mr. James Walter Lea, Jr. (J.W.), passed away peacefully at the age of 92 in his home in Magnolia, Mississippi, on August 26, 2023.

Mr. Lea was born on July 24, 1931 to James Walter Lea and Agnes Julia Berry Lea in Magnolia, Mississippi.

Mr. Lea served in the United States Air Force from August 27, 1952 until April 1974. He served two years in Paris, France; one year in Vietnam; along with additional tours in Alaska, Panama Canal, England and Turkey. He crossed the Atlantic six times, once by ship and five times by plane. He crossed the Pacific four times by plane. He was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was very proud of his military service. After he retired from the Air Force, he worked as a security guard with Croft Metals for many years.

He was an avid genealogist documenting his family back to the Revolutionary War and England. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Sons of the American Revolution, and Air Force Sergeants Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Doris Evelyn Lea. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Betty Ann Lea Burt and John P. Burt, nephews James Michael Douglass and Brian Patrick Burt, and niece Stacey Lea Boiles.

A visitation will be held at Sharkey Funeral Home in Summit, MS, Wednesday, August 30, 2023, beginning at 1PM until time of service at 2PM. A graveside service will immediately follow at Magnolia Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church in Magnolia or to the charity of choice.