WADESBORO — On Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, Mr. James McKay “Jimmy” Dennis, 77, passed away peacefully with his wife, daughter and grandson by his side.
There will be a service to celebrate his life at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, at First Baptist Church, Wadesboro. Inurnment will be private in Eastview Cemetery in Wadesboro.
The family will greet friends following the service at a reception in the church fellowship hall and other times at the home.
Jimmy was born March 4, 1944, in Anson County, and was a son of the late Carmie Lester Dennis and the late Mavis Hutchinson Dennis.
He was a graduate of Lilesville High School and Wingate College. He also attended North Carolina State University.
He worked with the North Carolina Department of Transportation as a civil engineer with more than 30 years of service. Following his retirement, he worked with Barbara H. Mulkey Engineering and Consulting and Sepi Engineering, both in Raleigh. He also worked and operated James M. Dennis Engineering and Surveying up until December of 2020. He was well-respected in his career by his peers and colleagues.
Jimmy loved his church family and was an active and faithful member of First Baptist Church, Wadesboro, where he served in numerous leadership capacities. He was also active with Anson Alcoholics Anonymous, of which he was most proud and was always willing to be of service an help to others who struggled with alcoholism.
An avid bridge player, he was a member of the Men’s Bridge Club, which met many years at Twin Valley Country Club since the 1970s. He also enjoyed playing a good round of golf with his friends.
He was active in his community and served on the State Employee’s Credit Union Board in Charlotte, the North Carolina State Employees Association, ABC Board, and was a member of the Gideon’s International Anson Camp.
Jimmy Dennis, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 58 years, Marian Brock Dennis; his daughter, McKay Dennis Barber of Matthews; his grandson, James “Jimmy” Barber of Matthews; his sister, Janet White and husband, Mark of Polkton; his niece and nephews, Angela Munno Mustard, Johnny Munno, Jimmy Munno, Dennis Cloud and wife, Donna and Jeff Cloud and wife, Trish; and his great-nephews and niece, who he loved as if they were his grandchildren, Thomas Lamb, Wilson Stone and Caroline Stone.
Also surviving are his Brock family sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Carolyn Edwards of Hamlet, Helen Munno of Stanly, Wilma Drake and Frances Pope, both of Wadesboro, Judy Sharpe and husband, Larry of Winston-Salem and Stanley Brock and wife, Linda of Polkton.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters and brother, Pansy Munno, Peggy Cloud and Carmie Dennis; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, W. Dewitt and Virginia Hodge Brock; and his aunt and uncle, with whom he lived following the death of his parents, James and Flora Hutchinson.
The family will be forever grateful to his caregivers, Sylvester Horne, Paula Pierre and Betty Robinson, who treated Jimmy with the utmost dignity and care. The three of them are more like family to Jimmy and his family. Also, heartfelt gratitude to, Dr. Anjay Iyer and Dr. Susan Owens for going above and beyond when it came to Jimmy’s healthcare journey.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Sound System Project (please reference in memo line), P.O. Box 423, Wadesboro, NC 28170; or to Eastview Cemetery Trust, c/o Russell Sikes, 209 E. Wade St., Wadesboro, NC 28170.
Jimmy will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was a friend to all and saw the good in everyone. He was a gentle man and a gentleman.
The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com.
