Funeral services for Mr. James Albert Monk, age 82 of Simsboro, LA will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA with Rev. Charles Penuell officiating. Burial will follow with a graveside service at 1:00 PM, Friday, May 19, 2023 in the Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in Lake, Mississippi under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston.
James was born November 30, 1940 in Newton County, MS to Abb and Trudy Monk and passed away May 11, 2023 in Simsboro. He drove an 18-wheeler for many years and went by the handle “Cornshucker.” James drove a truck like no other. After many years of truck driving, he became a welder. There were not many things that James could not weld. He even designed and built his own wood splitter. James retired from Lincoln Parish Landfill. When he chose Joyce as his wife, he also chose her children as his own. James became a dad to them in every sense of the word, and they were as much his as his two boys from a previous marriage. Their children became James’s grandchildren, and he loved them all as his own. His grandchildren say that he was the kind of pawpaw that all kids hope for. James was preceded in death by his wife Joyce Monk; daughter Marcell Monk; sons Alton Monk and Travis Edmiston; parents; brothers: Billy Ray Monk, Leon Monk and Charlie Monk; and sister Dorothy Mae Monk.
James is survived by his sons Jody Monk and wife Lisa and Mike Monk and wife Leigh Ann; daughters: Debbie and husband Eddie Colvin, Vicky and husband Johnny Monk and Johnette and husband Mark Hammon; brothers: Neal Monk and wife Lynn, Thomas Monk, George Monk and wife Nancy, Larry Monk and wife Charlotte and Johnny Monk and wife Vicky; sister Virginia Lay; grandchildren: Mathew Monk, Brandon Monk, Mallory Monk, Tyler Monk, Johnathan Monk, Jessie Woolsey, Christin McGrew, Hillery Stone, Marcy Edmiston, Will Edmiston, John Cullins and Travis Cullins; numerous nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a host of other family and many friends.
James often told us, “I’ve loved you a long time,” and we have loved him a long time.
Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Monk, Jody Monk, Jonathan Monk, Will Edmiston, John Cullins and Travis Cullins.
Visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at the funeral home.
