POPE– James L. Pope Sr., 58, died Friday, January 9, 2009, at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

Services are Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Pope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Rev. Nehemiah Martin will officiate. Burial will be in Pope Chapel Cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary and 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Pope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church and Wednesday noon – 1 p.m. at the church. Cooley’s Mortuary has charge.

Pope, born Oct. 16, 1950, to the late Hilliard Pope and the late Margaret Wright, was a maintenance supervisor for Parker Hannifan. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines and a member of Pope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.

He was a worshipful master of Pope Lodge No. 445A; a worthy patron of Victory Star 121 O.E.S. Bonikareem Chapter No. 1; Edward S. Baker Consistory No. 145 and Booker Royal Arch Chapter No. 48 and Hira Temple No. 131. He was preacher steward of the church, treasurer and member of the trustee board and sanctuary and male choir.

He was on the Pope Courtland Water Association and Pope Courtland Community Development. He was vice-president of the Pope Cemetery Committee.

Survivors include: his wife, Margaret G. Pope of Pope; five sons, James Pope Jr., Justin Pope, Jarrad Pope and Joseph Pope, all of Pope and Jandon Edwards of Batesville; three daughters, Debra Turner of Pope, Audra Willingham of Batesville and Erika Armstrong of Houston, Texas; three sisters, Birdia Pope and Georgella Hall, both of Batesville and Christine Pope of Detroit, Mich.; two brothers, William Pope of Pope and Jury Pope of Detroit, Mich. and seven grandchildren.

The complete obituary will be published in Friday’s print edition.