08/15/2025
Jim Henry Knighten
March 6, 1948 - August 14, 2025
Jim Henry Knighten, age 77, husband, Daddy, PawPaw, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away on August 14, 2025 in the presence of his family in their home in the Oak Bowery Community.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home, Troy. Funeral services will be on August 19, 2025 following the visitation in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home with Minister Larry Brady officiating. Graveside services will follow at Belser Cemetery, Oak Bowery Community. The family will receive friends following the graveside service at Ansley Baptist Church.
Jim was born in Grady, Alabama on March 6, 1948, the son of Minnie (Tiny) Deese Knighten and Sidney Knighten. He played football and graduated high school from Montgomery County High, Ramer, Alabama. He was mainly raised by his Grandmother, Clara “Pink” Rodgers Deese. He married his dedicated and loving wife, Mary Rebecca (Becky) Wood on October 24, 1969.
Jim was a dedicated employee of Best Glass Company, Montgomery, Alabama, for over 25 years. He was also a dedicated employee of Sanders Farm, M&M Ranch and Bayou Self Farms, all the same farm located in the Oak Bowery Community. This farm was originally settled by the Sanders family from 1851 to 2003. Bruce Sanders sold the family farm in 2003, and the Mike de la Hoz Family of Florida owned it for approximately 9 years (M&M Ranch). Over 13 years ago, it was sold to Travis Bergeron of Louisiana, and it’s now known as Bayou Self Farms. Jim loved this farm and knew it well, as he worked this land for over 26 years, and dedicatingly so until his passing.
Jim grew up in the Church of Christ and was baptized at a young age. He and his friends and family were raised when
old, fast cars and trucks were most important, and his favorite car was his light gray 57 Chevy. He was a simple man of T-shirts, jeans and boots and loved all things outdoors.....fishing, hunting, bailing hay, raising cows and horses, and even bird watching, as he’s been watching the kite birds being raised in his community in recent years. He loved his pond and particularly his school of bream that followed him around the pond as he walked it each day. He loved mechanics in younger years and would tinker with cars and trucks and sell them as a hobby. This lead to “his boy” Josh choosing diesel mechanics for his occupation. He always spent lots of time with his kids, nieces, nephews and grandkids and made sure they all knew how to hunt and fish, and most important how to save money and establish good credit. All kids growing up around Uncle Jim or PawPaw will remember him giving them money, as he saved money his whole life only to give them cash every time they would visit.
Jim taught of giving instead of receiving, how to work hard and fix things himself to save instead of hiring labor.....how to be a friend to every one.....a strong man who knew God was in control.
Jim is preceded in death by: his daughter, Stacey Marie Knighten; his mother, Minnie (Tiny) Lee; his father, Sidney Knighten; his stepfather, Edward Boyd Lee; his grandmother, Clara (Pink) Deese; his brother, David (Chick) Knighten; and his sister, Joy Knighten Griffin.
He is survived by: his wife of over 55 years, Mary Rebecca (Becky) Knighten; his daughter, Sherry Knighten; “his boy”, Josh Wood (Debi); his grandchildren, Jessica Knighten (fiance, Zack Wood), Tide Knighten, Everleigh Knighten, Kodi Garrett (Chase), Courtney Jones (Tyler) and Hailey Finger; four great-grandchildren; his sister, Bonnie Stuckey (Tommy); his brother, Sidney (Bubba) Knighten (Dora); brother-in-law, Billy Wood; sister-in-law, Bonnie Wood Tillery; one uncle, Red Deese; a special cousin/friend, Junior Deese; other cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great nephews; other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be: Billy Wood, Zack Wood, Michael Wood, Kaleb Wood, Ian Wood, River Wood, Brad Knighten, and John Dalton Sikes.
Jim was a longtime member and volunteer of Belser Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Belser Memorial Cemetery Trust, 4957 Huffman Road, Grady, Alabama 36036.
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