Danny Linda Keller
With our sympathy and prayers. (We learned of Jim's death Saturday, October 5.)
Danny and Linda Keller
Birth date: Oct 31, 1938 Death date: Sep 9, 2013
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Jimmy L. “Jim” Rush, age 74, a resident of Cleveland passed away Monday morning in a Sevierville hospital. He was the son of the late J.L. “Shorty” and Nellie Ritchey Rush. Also preceding him in death was his step mother Betty Rood Rush. He was founder of Jim Rush Funeral Homes having started in the funeral business at the age of 14, working at Daniels Funeral Home of Rome Georgia, alongside his dad. He was a graduate of Rome City High School. From there he attended the Cincinnati College of Embalming where he completed his Mortuary Science Degree. He was licensed to practice funeral service and embalming in the states of Georgia, and Tennessee. Shortly before his graduation from Mortuary College, he married Judy Brock Rush, May 17, 1959. Jim and Judy returned to Rome working in their professions. Jim worked at several different funeral homes while in Georgia and also served as a Sheriff’s deputy in Rome, Georgia. Jim and Judy moved their family to Cleveland, Tn in 1964 to work for Buckner Funeral Home. Following a move back to Georgia, Jim and Judy returned to Cleveland where Jim served as head of detectives of Bradley County Sheriff’s Department. Law Enforcement was a second passion of his, but his calling was funeral service. In 1973, he was named manager of Buckner Funeral Homes. In 1977, Jim purchased the funeral home and changed the name to Buckner-Rush Funeral Homes. In 2003, Jim brought his son, J. Greg Rush and his son-in-law, Darrin Douglas in as partners. To honor him, they changed the name to Jim Rush Funeral Homes. During his funeral service career, he was asked to be the commencement speaker at graduation at Gupton Jones Mortuary Science College in Atlanta, Georgia. He served on numerous Tennessee Funeral Directors Association Committees and its board and served as its president from 1993 to 1994. One of his many acts while serving as president of the TFDA dealt with the devastation that was felt after the destructive flooding in Georgia which displaced so many caskets in various cemeteries. He prevailed upon the legislature of Tennessee to pass a law requiring that every deceased body have a permanent identification on their person. He also served on the advisory board for United Family Life Insurance, Atlanta, Georgia. Jim was an avid hunter, and golfer. He loved the mountains and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. One of his favorite activities was spending time with his family, watching his grandkids play ball, traveling out west with Judy, and working at the funeral home. Those that knew him enjoyed his sense of humor and delighted seeing him riding around in his truck in town and even traveling to Cades Cove in the mountains. The City of Cleveland honored his service to the people of Cleveland and Bradley County, by designating November 9, 2012 as Jim Rush Day. He was humbled by this expression of gratitude for his life’s service. In June of 2013, at the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association Convention, he was inducted to its Wall of Fame. Jim was a loving husband, father, Papa, and servant. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.Survivors include his wife of 54 years Judy Brock Rush of Cleveland, his sons, J. Greg Rush and his wife Darla, Marc Rush and his wife Tina all of Cleveland. His daughters, Kim Rush of Nashville and Kathi Rush Douglas and her husband Darrin of Cleveland, his grandchildren Jennifer Nicole Rush of Cleveland, Bailey Elizabeth Rush of Nashville, Brock Rush and his wife Kayla of Fairhope Alabama, Olivia Howard of Cleveland, Matthew Rush of Sevierville, Caleb Douglas, Cameron Douglas, Collin Douglas, Carter Douglas, and Cole Douglas all of Cleveland. He is also survived by his step- brothers Bruce and Steve Rood and their families of Rome, Georgia, his step-sister Angel Rood Camp and her family of Ashland, Kentucky, his brothers-in-law Reverend Ronald E. Brock of Jonestown, PA., Reverend Steve L. Brock and his wife Pat of Dacula, GA., his aunt Martha Jo Baldwin of Rome, Georgia, his cousin Glenda Almand and her family of Rome, Georgia, and several more cousins, nephews, nieces, and his employees and their families of Jim Rush Funeral Homes whom he considered family. A Remembrance of Life service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, September 13, 2013 at Westmore Church of God with Pastor Kelvin Page, Pastor Gary Sears, and Reverend Wendell Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Boanerges Baptist Church Cemetery with Brock Rush, Matthew Rush, Caleb Douglas, Cameron Douglas, Bob Batson, Richard Jeffers, Daniel Ownby and Pastor Cy Harris serving as casket bearers. Honorary pallbearers are Jennifer Rush, Bailey Rush, Olivia Howard, Kayla Rush, Collin Douglas, Carter Douglas, Cole Douglas, and his colleagues in funeral service across the state. The family will receive friends 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday, September 12, 2013 at the Westmore Church of God. Because of his dedication to funeral service the family requests that memorials be made in his honor to the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association Memorial Scholarship Fund to ensure that the same passion, respect and honor will continue in the serving of families during their time of need. Tennessee Funeral Directors Association Memorial Scholarship Fund 1616 Church Street Nashville, TN 37203 We encourage you to share your memories and/or condolences with the family by going to www.jimrushfuneralhomes.comRead Obituary
With our sympathy and prayers. (We learned of Jim's death Saturday, October 5.)
Danny and Linda Keller
Jim Rush was a very caring person. He made you feel as if your family was his also when he was helping with your arrangements. I always wanted to talk with him if we were in need of his services. He will be greatly missed by many people.
If we could all leave a legacy similar to Jim Rush, this would be a better world. He will be missed for sure by many folks. I work in the family service area of the funeral home, and most every time I sit down with a family or speak to them on the phone, they tell me how much they respect and love Jim Rush. They often tell me how Jim would go out of his way to comfort them and some instances help them have a respectful funeral when the family had money issues and never turned anyone away that did. Yes, Jim Rush was a "good man." Respectfully, Rebecca Palmer
Do you ever attend the funeral of someone, and leave wishing you could have spent time with them here on earth? Jimmy L. "Jim" Rush, the husband of my cousin, Judy Brock Rush, is a man that I would have enjoyed knowing! The lives of Judy, her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends are enriched because Jim was ordained by God for such a rime as this! I learned yesterday that he was a humble, kind, merciful and benevolent man...a man of integrity...a man of greatness. Only eternity will reveal the lives that were changed by this man who loved God and...who saw everyone as valuable! He lived the teachings of Jesus! Judy and the family are in my prayers.
Love, Germaine Griffin Copeland
RIP Mr. Rush......The Bob Suits Family
Dear Greg & Rush Family:
The "Remembeance of Life" service in honor of your distinguished father, was an excellent tribute to his notable life.
Greg, your father would have been so honored by your eulogy address. It was both wonderful and refreshing when a son can stand before the elders of the community and demonstrate such love and respect for one's father. You also demonstrate your father's grace, kindness and integrity.
The Looper's have the highest regard for your father and the Rush Family. When my late father - the patriarch of our family - Rev. John H. Looper - passed away 24 years ago, after the funeral here in Cleveland, your father himself transported my father to Piedmont, South Carolina for his Interment Service at a family plot. When I went to his office to settle up the post funeral transportation cost to South Carolina, your father simply said "no charge, I enjoyed the drive through the mountains and did this in honor of your father's many years of ministry." I had never seen such a demonstration of honor from a distinguished businessman and public servant. I just wanted you to know this story.
May The Lord guard your minds and hearts in all the days to come by the warm memories of this great man.
Pastor John A. Looper
& Looper Family
May our Father's loving arms hold you all as you seek His comfort.
Barbara Bell Worsham & Evelyn Siniard Hendrix Families
Our deepest condolences to your family. Mr. Rush was there for our family when the Lord called my grandmother, Opal Renshaw, to glory in 2005, Greg was there for my grandfather, Jack Renshaw, in 2007 and Marc just recently helped us with my father, James Gilbert, last month. I sympathize with the hurt for Greg, Marc, Kim and Kathi -- losing the man who was the foundation of their lives as my father was for me. And in the time of sorrow, your family helped my family and I say our farewells and gave an outpouring of care that was needed and graciously appreciated and I would like to extend that care and compassion back during this time.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Jackie, Amanda and Patricia Gilbert & family
Well said..my sympathy to the Rush Family..
I'm so sorry for your loss of Jim in your lives. He always reminded me alot of my own father. I remember how they played softball together at the Boys and Girls Club and all the homeruns landing on the houses across the road from the right field fence. I can see Daddy and Jim already setting up a softball game in heaven. Can you imagine the fly balls on that team? We will see them soon I think. Praying for you all.
The Herb Walker family