James “Jimmy” Joseph Vickers
Published 5:00 am Saturday, October 7, 2023
Jimmy Vickers, 71, passed away Oct. 3, 2023, in a local care facility. He was born on Sept. 23, 1952, in Greenville, Miss., to Cecil and Josephine Correro Vickers.
Jimmy lived in Lake Charles most of his adult life but was always a Mississippi man at heart. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Geography and Area Development. He loved college football, especially the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, where he continued to attend games as long as he was able, some 45 years. You could often find Jimmy on a spin bike or in a weight room at the gym with his fellow gym friends. Jimmy made friends wherever he went. One of his favorite pastimes was sitting on the patio smoking a cigar and enjoying an adult beverage with his loving wife of 18 years, Jill, by his side. One of his other loves was his cat, Annie, who you could often find curled up in Jimmy’s lap.
Jimmy had an exceptional 35-year career with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury as the Director of the Division of Planning and Development where he made a positive, lasting impact on Calcasieu Parish through the many projects he oversaw. Jimmy had the ability to balance the interests of the citizens with the needs of the Parish to create a win-win solution. His co-workers considered Jimmy a “savvy public servant.”
He is survived by his wife, Jill Baker Vickers; his son, Ryan Cliff White; his daughter, Tracy Elizabeth Ashby (Tyler); and his sister, Mary Louise Felts (Dewitt). He is preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Mosely Vickers and Josephine Correro Vickers; and one brother, Cecil Miller Vickers.
A Memorial Service in honor of Jimmy will be held at 12 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel. Monsignor Harry Greig will preside. Inurnment will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. until the start of the service at 12 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, AC Chiller Replacement Fund, or to the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.