Funeral service for Dr. James “Jim” Fee age 82 of Old Hickory, will be conducted Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Fayetteville ARP Church with Dr. Calvin Todd and Mr. Jim Moran officiating. Dr. Fee will lie in state Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Fayetteville ARP Church. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Dr. Fee passed away Sunday morning at Alive Hospice at St. Thomas in Nashville following an ongoing struggle with heart disease.
Dr. Fee was born October 4, 1930, in Tipton County, Tennessee, to the late Samuel and Sarah (Sage) Fee. He cherished his 63 years of marriage to high school sweetheart, Ruby (Osteen) Fee, whom he married on October 14, 1949.
In addition to his wife he is survived by two daughters, Jan (Mike) Little, Old Hickory; Cheri Fee, Nashville; and a son Chris Fee, Old Hickory; brother Charles Fee, Memphis; sister Roberta Gray, Covington; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many close friends. Dr. Fee was preceded in death by his son, Scott (Vickie) Fee.
Dr. Fee attended Memphis State University. After college, he worked for the R.J. Reynolds Company until God called him into the ministry. He attended seminary at Erskine College. He would later receive an honorary doctorate from Erskine for his contributions to theology and preaching. Dr. Fee held Pastor positions at the Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, Vidette, GA; Ebenezer ARP Church, Wrens, GA; Fayetteville ARP Church, Fayetteville, TN; and Richland ARP Church, Rosemark, TN. Dr. Fee enjoyed hunting, fishing, and reading, but the work of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ occupied the majority of his public and private life as he worked tirelessly, investing in the lives of others and modeling the love and compassion of his Lord. His fingerprints are left on countless communities, churches, and individuals whom he influenced and inspired.
Visitation with the family will be Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fayetteville ARP Church, 1720 Huntsville Highway, Fayetteville, TN 37334 or Alive Hospice Inpatient at St. Thomas Hospital, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203-9658.
During the time Rosemark ARP was without a minister my parents were in a nursing home and Jim provided pastoral care for them. When they died he helped us with funeral plans and conducted their services. He was such a help and comfort to us. We will always remember his concern and comfort.
Jane & Jim McCalla
Cheri and family, May God bring you peace in knowing your dad is with him now.
Sorry to hear of Dr. Fee’s passing. You are all in my prayers. God bless.
Ruby, Charles and all the family members. We celebrate the life of Dr. Fee (We as youngsters always knew him as “Bud”. I am an alumni of Dunlap Orphanage.) Dr. Fee’s father was our farm manager for a number of years. What a great man was he, and “Bud”, Darnell and all the Fees had those same great genes. We had great competition in the cotton fields , trying to “outpick” the other.
Our Prayers go out to all his family.
Homer Barnhardt Sr.
Our family is praying that during this most difficult time..that the God whom Rev Fee knew and trusted as his personal Savior…will give the grieving family that peace that surpasses all human understanding. At times like this, a family can draw closer to the Lord and each other..
this is our wish and prayer!
Linda, Lang & Rylee Scott
I will always remember Rev. Fee. From the first time I met him, he was always a very kind person. He knew how to communicate and interact with people of all ages, from infants on up. Both he and his wife were always a blessing to be around. They raised some wonderful kids. I was sad when he retired. I enjoyed his sermons. He will be missed by all that knew him. But we all know that he is now in Heaven. God bless the family.
Our loss is Heaven’s gain. Sending my deepest sympathy to the Fee family. My prayer is that your broken hearts will be healed through the precious memories you have.
In Christian Love,
Peggy G. Bevels
Our deepest sympathy to Ruby and the children. There was not a more gentle person than Dr. Fee. He and Ruby were so special to my parents and such an important part of our lives. He married us in 1967 and has always been in our hearts. He will be greatly missed by so many.
Ruby, My heart goes out to you and your family. You and Jim was such a blessing to me and the Wylie family during your years at Rosemark. I have such fond memories of all the many fun things that we shared but most importantly the kind, gentle and caring thoughts and words during Don’s death. There is not a more caring couple than you and Jim. You are truly a blessing.
My heart goes out to you and your wonderful family. May God Bless and comfort you in this time of loss.
To the FEE Family, Mr.James(to use) may be gone yet never forgotten,We loved him because he loved God and was never ashame to make that clear.As so soul may now rest,we thank God for the awesome memories he left on our hearts,and now we ask the Father to show you the Family peace that surpasses all understanding
My family loves Ruby and Jim Fee. He was our friend and preacher. The Fees were always there when we needed them. When my brother was critically ill he spent a lot of time with us – he was there thru the long haul. We have many good stories and great memories! We will miss him and never forget him. Love you Mrs. Fee!
Dear Ruby and family,
I am so sorry hearing about Jim’s passing.
He was one of the sweetest men I have ever known and I will miss him very much! I will always remember his warm and sweet smile.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.
With deepest sympathy,
May God Bless you and your family,
Shannon Patterson
Jim was a dear friend and loved by Andra and I. He was my pastor for over 10 years and influenced my christian life in so many ways. Ruby we send our love and share in your loss. May God grant you strength during this time.
Cheri and family,
So sorry to learn of your Dad’s death. May God grant your peace and wrap his loving arms around you and your family at this time. Your Dad was truly a man of God.
Debbie White Taylor
My heart goes out to the family on the loss of their dear father, and granddad. I have known the Little family for many, many years. They are my dear friends and part of my church family at HUMC.
I had met Dr. Fee but did not know him personally. However, I saw his love and devotion for his family and God through my dear friend Jan’s unselfish acts of kindness for her family and friends.
In the Spirit of God’s love and peace, I pray that the family will find comfort during this time of sorrow in the gathering of loved ones to celebrate the Life of such a wonderful father and granddad.
We have lost a precious man in our family. The angels in heaven are rejoicing because this man of God has been called home. Jim’s words at our marriage ceremony and at the funeral of my beloved husband, Dr. Sam Fee, Jr. were very comforting.
May God bless and keep Ruby, Cheri, Jan and Chris and the grandchildren at this time of loss.
Pam Fee
We all were so sorry to hear of our Uncle Bud’s death and our prayers are with you all in this time of sorrow.
My Dad, J.E. Vernon, loved Uncle Bud. They loved to go fishing and squirrel hunting. I have many fond memories of his humorous personality during my childhood.
He preached our Dad’s funeral many years ago and was so compassionate and knew exactly what to say. We were strengthened in the Lord by his words to us.
I had know Reverend Fee for many years as a boy coming of age. When it was time for me to marry, it was Mr. Fee that I turned to. Miss Debbie and I went through many sessions of premarital counseling with him before we married. He was very frank in these sessions –
and we both believe he put us on the right course for a successful marriage. We have been married since July of 1977 and will always give him the credit for a solid foundation as we began this journey. What a wonderful man and what a wonderful wife he had in Miss Ruby. The two of you will always hold a special place in our hearts. We have lost a saint with his passing. He was a Christian gentleman. Our hearts are broken with the passing of this special man.
Joel and Debbie
Guys, my heart goes out to each of you in the loss of your Dad.
He was preaching in Fayetteville during a lot of my childhood and I loved him dearly.
May God bless each of you and comfort you in your sorrow.