James Monday

James Herbert Monday, known to all simply as James, was born on a crisp autumn day on October 28, 1936, in Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas. His life was a journey marked by compassion, courage, inspiration, and thoughtfulness, touching countless lives along the way. His passing on April 19, 2025, leaves a void filled with the echoes of his laughter, wisdom, and the cherished memories he created.

James was a man of the soil and the soul. A proud United States Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, he carried the soldier's spirit within him, always reminding us, "Once a soldier, always a soldier." Upon retiring, he found solace in the simplicity of life in his beloved Oppelo, Arkansas. His love for gardening was evident in the thriving plants that decorated his home and the Petit Jean garden club, where he was a cherished member. As he rode around his garden and fields on his beloved John Deere tractors, he found a peace that was profound and contagious.

But James's true passion was his faith and his family. His relationship with the Lord was his guiding light, illuminating his path and inspiring those around him. His love for his family was unbounded, each member holding a special place in his heart. The joy and pride he found in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life. He is survived by his children, Pamela Jean Monday (Carma) of Little Rock, and James Edward Monday (Sherry) of New York, his brother Richard Monday (Judy), and his sister Marjorie Coupal both of Missouri, Five grandchildren: Brooke Stammich, Jesse Cirocco, Josh Monday, Ashley LeMacks and Amanda Green, Five great grandchildren, plus numerous, nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Nathaniel and Gertrude, as well as his sister Freda and brother Donald.

As we celebrate James's life on Friday, April 25th, 2025, at 11:00am at the First Baptist Church Oppelo, we remember the words of Helen Keller: "What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." James has indeed become a part of us, and his legacy will continue in the lives he touched. Interment will follow at Petit Jean Cemetery.

Please join us in remembering and celebrating James. We invite you to share your memories and upload photos to his memorial page, capturing the essence of a man who was, in every sense, once a soldier, always a soldier.