Jimmy F DeFord

February 4, 1933 - September 10, 2020

Jimmy F DeFord passed this life on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at Tennova Harton Hospital at the age of 87 years. Memorial Services will be scheduled at the Tuscaloosa First United Methodist Church and announced later. Mr. DeFord, a native of Texas, was the son of the late Oran Richard and Anna DeFord. He was a U S Air Force veteran and came to Tullahoma in 1961 to work at Arnold Air Force Base as an aeronautical engineer. While living in Tullahoma, he attended Wesley Heights Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church. He also owned and operated the Boars Pen BBQ in Tullahoma and Hog Waller BBQ in Manchester. He later moved to Tuscaloosa where he owned and operated Pearl Vision. He was a member of Tuscaloosa First United Methodist Church where he was very active with “Cooking for Christ” and the prison ministry programs. He also operated a weekly food pantry where he would collect and distribute food to families. When his health began failing in late 2019, he relocated back to the Tullahoma area to be near his family. Mr. DeFord enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a licensed pilot. Growing up in Texas in was a Texas Longhorn fan but became an avid University of Alabama fan in Tuscaloosa. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma DeFord. He is survived by son, Barry DeFord (Kathie) of Estill Springs; daughter, Shelly Keeton of Tullahoma; grandchildren, Cameron Sharpton (Lindsay) of Lynchburg and Leah Sharpton Turner of Tullahoma and great grandchildren, Landon Foutch, Lizzy and Luke Sharpton, Baylee Cyree ad Beckham Turner. Please visit our website at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com to leave online condolences. Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.