James H. Johns, 87, of Jackson passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born July 10, 1915, in Friendship, Tenn., son of Carlos and Florence I. Privett Johns. He and Alta Marie Holmes were married Aug. 11, 1936.

James was a member of Carpenters Local Union 1770. He worked many years at Penzel Construction Co. in Jackson.

He and Alta were faithful members of Shawnee Hills Baptist Church in Jackson, where he served as a deacon and was instrumental in various construction phases of the church.

Loving survivors include his wife, Alta; a son, Harold Johns of Jackson; a daughter, Joyce Burk of St. Louis; a brother, Sandy Johns of Steele, Mo.; two sisters, Lillie Prichard of Friendship, Pauline Vida of Farmington Hills, Mich.; a half brother, Oneal Johns; three half sisters, Vera Brown, Lorene Johns and Mattie Bell Ray.

Also surviving are four grandchildren, Susan Gaskill of New Florence, Mo., Tony Burk of Sugar Creek, Ohio, Cheryl Martin of Fenton, Mo., Jannelle Potts of Winston-Salem, N.C.; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marie Gibson; a brother, Jesse Johns; and a sister, LaVerne Johns.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. The Rev. Raymond V. Epps will officiate. Burial will be in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill, Mo.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Shawnee Hills Baptist Church.