Funeral services for James Olen Lofton, of Sontag, will be Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home in McComb. Dr. David Millican will officiate. Burial will be in Ramah Cemetery, McCall Creek.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 30, 5-9 p.m. and Wednesday, 9 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

Mr. Lofton, 84, died May 27, 2017, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Franklin County on April 20, 1933, to George and Allie Lewis Lofton.

Mr. Lofton retired from MDOT and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Ramah Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved to travel, listen to bluegrass music and never met a stranger. He will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley Lofton; son, James O. Lofton; two brothers, Russell and Douglas Lofton; three sisters, Hilldarey Smith, Bobby Porter and Faye Bullock; great-grandchild, Connor Alford; and son in-law, James Bessonette.

He is survived by a son, Lloyd Lofton (Becky) of Brookhaven; two daughters, Becky Bessonette of Brookhaven and Marie Fairchild (Phillip) of Monticello; seven grandchildren, Chris, Cody, Kayla, Amber, Matthew, Leann and Adam; and 12 great-grandchildren, Emma, Lillie, Aly, Bayligh, Tucker, Alyssa, Sadie, Benton, Maryley, Harmony, Addison and Aidan.

Pallbearers will be Chris Dickerson, Cody Dickerson, Billy Mcleod, Bobby O’Neal and Chris Johnson. Honorary pallbearer will be Phillip Fairchild.

The family would like to thank the nurses and aides of St. Luke’s Hospice for the care and compassion they showed their father.