Our beloved James, better known to his family as “Poppy,” was made whole and graciously welcomed into his heavenly home on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Mr. Dawson was born and raised in Opelika and holds a special place in the heart of our community. He will be remembered for the joyful, loving, goofy and steady soul that he was by all who knew him. James lived his life in the spirit of helping others. He never met a stranger. There was never a project too big for him to tackle, and he spent all the time he could spare making our little corner of the world a better place. He was a wonderful husband, gracious father, top-notch bass fisherman, next-level handyman and best friend. To know him was to love him; and man did we love him big. Still do.
Mr. Dawson is survived by his wife of 38 years, Starla Dawson; four children, Jonathan Matthew Dawson (Jessica), Clay Seth Dawson (Katie), Kyle James Dawson (Donna) and Nicholas Chase Dawson (Catherine); eight grandchildren, Savannah Leigh Dawson, Sawyer Bryan Dawson, Ava May Dawson, Sadie Rose Dawson, Everly James Dawson, Clay Seth Dawson Jr., James Victor Dawson II and Parker Dru Dawson; and parents-in-law Tom and Dianne Hornek and Jimmy and Jelaine Clark.
Visitation for Mr. Dawson was Saturday, Jan. 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika. Funeral service was held on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Opelika’s 3:16 Center.