Roland Kenneth James, 73 of Henrietta passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Service will be Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 2pm at Macedonia Baptist Church, Brookhaven, MS.

Roland was born on December 29, 1949 in Brookhaven, MS, to Augustus and Dorothy (Redd) James. He was a 1969 graduate of Loyd Star High School in Brookhaven, MS. He was drafted into the US Army and served in Vietnam in 1970-1971. He was in the Special Forces Reconnaissance unit of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” 3rd Air Cavalry Brigade. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Acts of Merit & Heroism in a war.

After the service, he retired from the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in 1987 and the US Postal Service in 2012.

In retirement, he enjoyed taking care of the yard and pool, washing his pick-up truck, and playing the Lottery.

He was preceded in death by his father, Augustus James; and mother, Dorothy Marie Parnell; and stepfather, Jimmy Parnell; and brothers, Jack James and Sherman James.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Sue James; son, DeLynn James of Plano, Texas; and daughter, Misty Blowers and husband Daniel of Henrietta, Texas. He has four grandkids, Cole James of Aubrey, Texas; Kendall James of Aubrey, Texas; Makenzie Blowers of Henrietta, Texas; and Reese Blowers also of Henrietta; brothers Charles Ray James of Breaux Bridge, La., and  Douglas James of Mt. Pleasant, TX; and sister, Patricia Ann James of Houma, La.

He has numerous unofficial grandkids in Henrietta. He was known by Kenzie and Reese’s friends as Papa or Pawgran. He has many nieces and nephews.

Roland was the most competitive, yet selfless person you would ever meet.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org