Jimmy Marion Bevis

Jimmy Marion Bevis, 80, of Lebanon, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 22, 2024, in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Born Sunday, January 16, 1944, in Dyer County, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Bee Bevis and the late Ophelia Woodley Bevis.

Jimmy attended the University of Arkansas and completed his Bachelors of Science at Memphis State University. He was a very proud graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, where he completed his Masters Degree in Hospital Administration. 

Jimmy had a distinguished career as a Hospital Administrator, starting out at St. Jude in Memphis, serving longest at the Jackson Clinic in Jackson Tennessee and finishing as an Administrator for HCA in Jackson. Throughout his career, he built lasting relationships and left a positive mark on those who worked with him. After a successful career as a Hospital Administrator, Jimmy found a new career as a Professor and taught several business and management courses at Union University.

Jimmy proudly served his country in the United States Navy as a Corpsman at the height of the Vietnam conflict. He served on Medevac flights from the U.S.S. Princeton into combat and also served with the Marines on combat patrols. He distinguished himself in combat and in service to his fellow Sailors and Marines and was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. 

Jimmy had a lifelong love of woodworking that started in shop class at Dyersburg High School, and later in life established himself as a skilled woodworker and maker of fine furniture from his shop in Madison County. 

Jimmy was a lifelong Episcopalian who served several terms on the vestry and as Junior Warden at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jackson, Tennessee. It was here that Jimmy’s love of woodworking and St. Luke’s intertwined when he crafted crosses for many of the parishioners using pews damaged in a tornado that struck the area.

A family-only visitation will be held from 10:00am to 10:30am with a public visitation from 10:30am to 11:15am on Friday, December 27th at Providence UMC Church, 10 Shaw Rd. Jackson, TN.

A graveside service for Mr. Bevis will be held following the visitation at 11:30am at Providence UMC Church Cemetery. Officiating the service will be Rev. Tommy Rhoads.

He is survived by his wife, Amanda Keltner Bevis of Lebanon, Tennessee; two sons, John Dober Bevis (Sherri) of Knoxville, Tennessee and Thomas Woodley Bevis (Paige) of Atlanta, Georgia; one step-daughter, Rachel Lynne Frazier (Matthew) of Jackson, Tennessee and one step-son, Joshua Lee Pettigrew (Kirby) of Nashville, Tennessee, one sister, Jo Ann Qualls of Newbern, Tennessee and four step-grandchildren, Miller Augusta Pettigrew, Maxwell Rex Pettigrew, Ann Wallis Frazier and Olivia James Frazier.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, M.C. Bevis, Gentry "Doc" Bevis, and Edward “Baby” Bevis and three sisters, Ida Mae Simpson, Frances Haraway, and Bette Logan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, PO Box 290369, 525 Royal Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee 37229. Online condolences may be made to the family at johnson-williamsfuneralhome.com. Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jimmy Marion Bevis.

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