On May 3, 2016, James Monroe “Jimmy” Rushing was ushered into heaven to life eternal with the God he served for most of his life. Sorrow fills our hearts at this sad time. The character of his life might be summed up as he was sincere, earnest, loyal, and a man who feared God. He was a man of high standards, integrity, courage, and faith serving God. What he preached, he practiced, what he believed, he believed with heart and soul.

Jimmy was born in New Orleans, on Aug. 15, 1918 and lived in Bogalusa since 1938. He finished high school in Covington where his parents operated a small store and meat market. Jimmy worked at several small business establishments then went to the Bogalusa Paper Mill for 16 years. With a love of the meat market, he opened Rushing’s Food Store in the Pleasant Hill area in 1955 from 1983. Many still have memories of those days of the “Mom and Pop” stores.

While attending First Baptist Church, he met his wife to be, Dorothy Lynell Lewis and soon married on March 16, 1940. They celebrated 70 years of marriage. Around 20 years of age, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and served Him to the end.

Jimmy helped in the building of Westside Emmanuel Church where he served in numerous capacities: Sunday School teacher, Training Union teacher, RA leader and brotherhood for men, served on numerous committees and as a deacon, serving numerous times as chairman.

As a patriotic American, he served in the Navy in the Pacific on Saipan from 1944 to 1946.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy L. Lewis Rushing; two daughters, Sandra Schiefley and Sharon Magee; his parents, James and Agnes Rushing; two brothers, William and Lloyd Rushing; and four sisters, Doris Sottile, Ollie Richardson, Norma Sharpe and Althea Palmisano.

Those left to cherish his memory include: son, Gary Rushing (Joan); granddaughters, Julie Grenuk (Joe), Terri Lynn Nicholas (Chris), and Kristy DuBois (Joshua); and two grandsons, Todd Schubert (Martha), and Tadd Rushing. He was also blessed with five great-grandchildren, Mason Nicholas, McKenna Rushing, Caleb and Noah DuBois, and Kinsley Rushing. There are also many nieces and nephews and other family members.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of services.

Visitation will be at Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church on Thursday, May 5, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Funeral services will continue at Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church on Friday, May 6, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Marcus Rosa officiating. Interment will follow at Hillview Memorial Gardens with military graveside services conducted by the honor guard of the American Legion Post #24. Donnie Kuhn will command this group.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Shriners Hospital. James Monroe Rushing’s life will live on in the hearts of those he touched through his witness and example, for he truly walked the walk and talked the talk. He now rejoices in Heaven as promised in God’s word.

The family wishes to extend its thanks to Rest Haven Living Center; Our Lady Of the Angels Hospital; Northshore Specialty Hospital; Camellia Home Health; Legacy Hospice and The American Legion.