JAMES A. PRESTRIDGE

PRESTRIDGE, JAMES A., age 82, passed away Friday, October 23, 2009 at his home in Woodstock. He was a long-time resident of Pleasant Grove. Born 11 September 1927 in Nauvoo, AL he was the oldest child of Jessie William and Rosa Clara Wint Prestridge. Graduated from Winston County High School; retired from US Steel's Forestry division and a family tree-cutting and firewood business. Survived by his wife of 60 years, Laverne Yates Prestridge; daughters: Jessie Hearle (Thomas) of Green Pond and Kimberly Johnson (Kendal) of Woodstock; sons: James D. Prestridge (Monica), of Davie, FL, John M. Prestridge, of Bessemer, Charles W. Prestridge (Tabitha), of LaGrange, GA, and Stephen J. Prestridge (Pam), of Navarre, FL; fifteen grandchildren: Melissa Prosser, Thomas J. Hearle, Benjamin Hearle, Christopher Hearle, Matthew Johnson, Sofia Prestridge, James Walter Prestridge, David Prestridge, Emily Prestridge, Rebecca Prestridge, Sara Prestridge, John S. Prestridge, Thomas Camacho, David Camacho, and Sam Camacho; great-grandson, Sean Newell; sisters, Betty Jo Holly, of Jasper, and Jeanene Moore (John), of Tacoma, WA; brother, Jerry G. Prestridge (Marie), of Poplar Springs; sister-in-law, Donsia Yates, of Hartselle; nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and his brothers-in-law, Leo Yates and Forrest Holly. At the conclusion of World War II, he was a Sergeant and teletype operator in the US Army in Germany from 1945 to 1947. As a member of the 970th Counter Intelligence Corps he was involved in the effort to track down Nazi war criminals for the Nuremberg Trials. Upon discharge from the Army, he joined the Army Reserves. When the Korean Conflict began, he was in the 1st unit to be called-up from the State of Alabama, and was stationed at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1939; and held many church leadership responsibilities, including Bessemer Stake Patriarch. His testimony of his Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel was unwavering. Endowed with a love of nature, willingness to work, a generous spirit, and a deep love of his family and his fellowman, he blessed many lives. Many knew him as the man who cut down trees, was always wearing an orange hard-hat, or the man that gave them vegetables from his garden. Visitation Sunday from 5-8 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bessemer; Funeral 11 AM Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jasper. Interment in Walker Memory Gardens, Jasper. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or your favorite charity.

JAMES A. PRESTRIDGE

October 23, 1927 - October 23, 2009