James Phy

Funeral services for James (Cotton) Franklin Phy, age 80, of Algood, TN will be held Monday, February 5th at 1:00 p.m. in the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Burial will be at Phillips Cemetery in Algood. Rev. Richard Bond will officiate.

His family will receive friends Monday from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Phy, Anthony Maxwell, Jack Sevier, David Sevier, Gene Austin Bilbrey and Ronnie Lane. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Bowman, Richard Maxwell, Jimmy Hunter and Larry Eberly.

Mr. Phy died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 23, 1944 in Algood to the late Wilson and Waunette Clouse Phy.

James graduated from Algood High School in 1962. He was a truck driver for more than 30 years. He started with Eller & Olsen Stone Company in Nashville. He was an avid fan of street rods. He and his wife Carolyn of 58 years enjoyed both attending and participating in cruise-ins around the Upper Cumberland as well as car shows near and far. They also enjoyed spending time with family and friends. James was often seen traveling the roads around Cookeville, making his rounds to keep up with family, friends, and happenings around town. He was always offering a helping hand, willing to help anyone in need. Friends and family always enjoyed his sense of humor and his ability to keep things light and positive, even through times of stress, sadness, and uncertainty. He had a way about him that made people feel comfortable and at ease. He will be missed by so many.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Anna Pearl Phy Bowman; brothers-in-law Walter H. Bowman, Jackie Sevier, and Jeff Fleming; sisters-in-law, Doris Bilbrey Sevier and Marcella Johnson Bilbrey; and niece, Wanda Faye Bowman Maxwell and nephew, James Finley.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Bilbrey Phy; his sister, Brenda Phy Fleming, and brother-in-law, Gene Bilbrey of Algood.

His family also includes nephews and nieces, Gary Bowman of Athens, TN; Richard Maxwell, Vickie Bilbrey, Sherrie (Kirk) Linger, Gene Austin (Lisa) Bilbrey, Melahn Finley, all of Algood; Jack (Jessica) Sevier of Allons and David (Rhonda) Sevier of Lebanon; great nieces and nephews, Anthony (Hailey) Maxwell, Zac (Maricel) Finley, Hallie Sevier, Thomas Sevier of Algood; Rebecca (Austin) Gray of Ooltewah, TN; Amber (Thomas) Shelton of Carthage; Sierra Sevier of Nashville; Amanda (Trey) Thomas and Ashton (Chad) White of Livingston; Bo Papagna of Cookeville, TN; Kayla (Dakota) Dickens of Gainesboro; Dylan Bilbrey of Rickman; great, great nieces and nephews, Allison and Tobias Maxwell, Emma Grace Shelton, Waylon Shelton, Blake Poindexter, Mason White, Shelby White, Bristol White, Paisley Dickens, Will Thomas and Lettie Thomas.

Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com.