James Clay “Jim” Conwill, 82
March 15, 1943 – October 28, 2025
James Clay “Jim” Conwill passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord in the early hours of October 28, 2025, after a period of declining health. Jim was born in Amory, Mississippi on March 15, 1943, to Elmer Clay Conwill and Dorothy Verniece Conwill. He graduated from Amory High School in 1962. Jim played football and had fond memories of his team’s winning the 1961 Little Ten Championship. To his family of eight brothers and sisters, he is known as Jimmy, a mischievous big brother. Throughout the years, his family has shared many stories of his teenage antics.
After attending ICC and Mississippi State for a time, Jim spent two years at Ft. Hood Texas serving in the United States Army. He returned home and decided to “pound the pavement” looking for a job. He moved to Tupelo and briefly worked for a finance company. Then, in 1973, he began a 36-year career with what was formerly the Bank of Mississippi. He started in the Collections Department and, at retirement in 2009, was a Senior Vice President and Loan Officer. The challenges of his work only served to energize him. He thrived in a fast-paced environment, especially during his time as manager of Indirect Lending, working with automobile dealers around the state. He was very customer-oriented and, even after retirement, had former customers who asked for his advice.
In 1971, Jim married Karen Dickey of Water Valley. They met on a blind date and shared 54 years of marriage. Together they had two daughters, Melissa and Amy. Jim was a family man in the best sense of the word. He was a wonderful husband and father. He loved his daughters dearly and encouraged them to grow into strong, independent women. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his two grandchildren and traveling. With his wife, and sometimes family, he journeyed to many of our country’s national parks, to Canada, and often to Florida beaches. He enjoyed cruises to Europe, always curious to see what was up the road, around the bend, or down a narrow cobblestone street. Jim was a lifelong Mississippi State football fan, going to games with his good buddy Dickie McGraw. In his later years, he mellowed a bit in all the rivalries and was just happy to see any of the state’s colleges come out victorious.
Jim was a man of quiet faith and had a heart for those trying to overcome life’s difficult circumstances. He was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church and later St. Luke United Methodist Church, serving in a number of positions in both. For several years he enjoyed volunteering with the St. Luke food pantry and hanging out with the Old Geezer’s coffee club.
Jim is survived by his wife Karen; his daughters Melissa Conwill and Amy South (Jeremy); and two grandchildren, Brennan and Bailey South, all of Tupelo. Along with a host of nieces and nephews, he leaves behind seven brothers and sisters: Kitty Ray (Larry) of Amory; Bob Conwill (Karol) of New Albany; Richard Conwill (Brenda) of Senoia, Georgia; Patty Phipps (Jack) of Tupelo; Janie Jones (Brent) of Madison; Peter Conwill, and Mary Tate, both of Amory. He also leaves his brothers- in-law Allen Dickey and Phillip Dickey (Kathy), and sister-in-law Janet Dickey, all of Water Valley.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer Clay and Dorothy Conwill, his sister Dianne Nations, a nephew Phillip Phipps, and his grandparents William Alivia Conwill and Dorothy Pearl Conwill; and Henry Myrt Coker and Zera Mae Thompson Coker.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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