James Walsh

In the early morning hours of March 3, 2025, heaven welcomed a soldier coming home from battle. A wife welcomed the love of her life and a mother got to see her oldest son once again. James Charles Walsh was better known as “Jimmy” (for those who grew up with him) but most everyone knew him as “Bro. Jim” or “Papa.” His son called him “Daddy” and his daughter called him “Dad.” Whatever the name, he was a man that was bigger than life! “Papa” was born in Glendale, California on August 25th, 1937. He grew up, however, in Bethany, La. on the State Line Road. He was raised by a single mother. At a very young age, he became the man of the house. He picked cotton when he was just 9 years old and told a story of going to church and ripping a page out of a hymnal. No one knew he did that, and, while he knew it was wrong, that page was always with him when he would go pick cotton as a boy. When he would take a break, he would sit under the cotton trailer, pull out the hymnal page he’d ripped out and would read, over and over, “What a friend we have in Jesus; all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” He enlisted in the Army when he was 17 and proudly served his country. He was honorably discharged and married the love of his life, Kelly. They built a grocery store in Bethany, had 2 children and then moved to Boulder City, Nevada in 1965. While in Boulder City, he felt the call of ministry on his life and started a mission on the Tonopah Highway in Las Vegas, Nevada. From that point on, telling others about Jesus was his life. When the family moved back to Bethany, he became a pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Keatchie, La. While he loved pastoring, the true gifting he was blessed with was evangelism. “Bro. Jim” preached over 1000 revivals during his life and hundreds of people came to know Jesus because of his love for preaching God’s word and reaching lost souls. He pastored FBC Waskom and Mulberry Springs Baptist Church as well and continued preaching Bible conferences and revivals until 2017. Always being faithful, five days before he left this earthly home, he led a prayer circle at Buckner Skilled Nursing. Sharing Jesus was who he was, even to the end. Left to cherish “Papa’s” memory and carry on his legacy are his daughter, Dawn and her husband, Jerry; his son, Shawn and his wife, Cindy; grandchildren Deke Dillard and his wife, Andrea, and their four daughters Sloane, Judah, Murphy and Dakota; granddaughter, Fancy Pettit, and her husband, Steven, and their two children Asher and Teegan; grandson, Ryker Dillard; granddaughters Lanie Walsh and Libby Walsh. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kelly, his brother, Tim, and his mom, “Mongoes.” One of “dad’s” favorite Bible verses was 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” While we will miss him greatly, we know that he would want all of us to share the gospel, every chance we get. Telling others about Jesus was his life’s calling and his life’s legacy. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation in his honor to Mission Without Borders (www.mwb.org) or Camp Bethany (a place Papa walked and prayed before there was even a camp built.) Donations can be sent to: Bethany Camp and Conference Center, PO Box 250, Bethany, La. 71007. In the memo part of the check, you can write in memory of Jim Walsh or write it inside a card to mail with check). Matthew 25:23: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” Services will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, March 9, 2025 in the Crossing at Mobberly Baptist Church, 625 East Loop 281, in Longview. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation beginning at 2:00 PM prior to the service. Private family burial will be held in Colonial Gardens in Marshall. Services have been entrusted to Horn-Nail-Haggard Funeral Home of Daingerfield.