Brother James E. "Jim" Avaritt, Sr. age 78, servant of God, was taken to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Thursday, August 14, 2014. Brother Jim a native of Murfreesboro, was born June 9, 1936 to Thomas W. and Willie Blythe Avaritt who preceded him in death. Son, James E. "Jimmy" Avaritt, Jr. and a brother, J.T. "Tom" Avaritt, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be 2:00pm Sunday, August 17, 2014 at Franklin Road Baptist Church where he was a member. Pastor Mike Norris, Dr. F. Murray Mathis, Dr. James O. Holder, Brother J. Martin, and Bro. Jimmy Tyson will officiate. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

Brother Jim is survived by Edwana Warren Avaritt, his loving wife of 58 years who was his high school sweetheart, sons, T. Warren Avaritt of Antioch, John E. Avaritt and his wife Paula Canter Avaritt of Murfreesboro, daughter, Janet Avaritt Paschal and her husband Russell of Woodbury, grandsons, Randy Avaritt and his wife Amanda Robertson Avaritt of Murfreesboro, Brian Avaritt and his wife Brittany Warren Avaritt of Columbia, Maryland and John Robert Avaritt of Murfreesboro, granddaughter, Sydney Leigh Avaritt of Murfreesboro, and great grandson Gavin Avaritt. He is also survived by his brother, George "Ike" Avaritt, and two daughters-in-laws, Teresa Earp Avaritt and Valerie Arnott Avaritt.

Brother Jim was a 1954 graduate of Central High School, 1969 graduate of Tennessee Temple University at Chattanooga, and 1977 graduate of M.T.S.U. He helped to start the first Bible club at Central High School.

He began pastoring as interim pastor at Patterson Baptist Church at age 17. He has pastored churches in Lawrenceburg and Lenior City, TN, Trion and Valdosta, GA, Calvert City, KY and 26 years at Bellwood Baptist Church in Murfreesboro from which he retired in 2010.

Brother Jim and his wife conducted vacation Bible schools in many states from Ohio to California with thousands of children attending. He served as President of the Good Sheperd's Children's Home and on the board for many years.
He fought to keep Murfreesboro a morally and family- oriented city because he loved his hometown.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 16, 2014, from 12:00PM to 8:00 PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International, Portico (formally Crisis Pregnancy) or Tennessee "Yes on 1" campaign. On line condolences may be sent to www.woodfinchapel.com 893-5151.