James Edmond Penn was born on April 25, 1936. He was the oldest child born to the late William Penn and Annie Clara Penn. He was preceded in death by his son, Randy Penn, his sister, Anna Penn, his two brothers, Charlie Clay (Bay) Penn and Leonard Penn, his parents-in-law, Joe and Ardenier Anderson and a devoted friend and fishing partner, Joseph Harris. James was married to the late Dorothy Russell and from this union came four children: Audie, Edna, Eric and Randy.
In 2004, James was united in holy matrimony to Odell Anderson Williams.
James confessed Christ at an early age and joined the Mt. Azure Baptist Church in the Three Notch Community, Union Springs, AL and later moved to Birmingham, AL and united with the St. John Baptist Church. After relocating back to Midway, AL, he united with the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Union Springs, AL.
He began his early school life at Aberfoil Junior High School in the Aberfoil Community in Union Springs, AL.
James moved back to Midway, AL after retiring from American Cast Iron and Pipe Company in Birmingham, AL with 37 years of service.
James was a very unique, stern yet witty, extremely outspoken man with a strong personality that could not go unnoticed. He loved people and believed in helping everybody. James was a very down-to-earth man who enjoyed the simple life. On any given day he could be found performing one or more of his favorite hobbies: fishing, shopping and clipping coupons. He was known for his special bird-like “whistle”. James often stated, “I want to be just like the birds...I only ask God for my daily bread and a place to lay my head.”
After an extended illness, God allowed him to enter into rest on Thursday, September 13, 2012 at his home.
He leaves to cherish his memories: a very devoted wife, Odell Penn; a loving mother, Annie Clara Penn; two sons, Audie (Maggie) Penn, Simpsonville, SC and Eric (Delois) Penn, Birmingham, AL; one daughter, Edna Moore, Birmingham, AL; four step-children: Christine (Aaron) Kennedy, Decatur, AL, Cynthia (Fred) Rivers, James (Freddie) Anderson, both of Union Springs, AL and Gerald Anderson, Upper Marlboro, MD; daugther-in-law, Brenda Penn, Birmingham, AL; four sisters: Thelma Coleman, Los Angeles, CA, Annie Laura Burks, Newark, NJ, Ruthie (Jeffery) Coleman and Belinda Isler, both of Atlanta, GA; four brothers, Willie B. (Ruby) Penn, Richard Penn, both of Midway, AL, Clarence (Juanita) Penn, Auburn, AL and Lee (Delores) Smith, Union Springs, AL; a cousin and a nephew who was reared as brothers: Early (Diane) Ford, Opelika, AL and Gerald Penn, Midway, AL; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Ann Penn, Rachel Penn, Joe (Idell) Anderson, Jr., Everett (Katie) Anderson, Willie (Eloise) Anderson, Mable Finney, Sarah Simmons, Clifford (Doris) Anderson, Olgie Anderson-Lee, James (Linda) Anderson, Wilbert Anderson, Malinda Anderson and Beketha Anderson; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly; six aunts: Lela Harmon, Birmingham, AL, Nettie Mae Robbins, Atlanta, GA, Ethel Wilson, Annie Penn, both of California, Ruth Ford, Ft. Walton, FL, Velma Baldwin, Union Springs, AL, one uncle, Semmie Ford, Detroit, MI, a special and devoted friend, Sammy Rodgers, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.