Mr. James William McElrath was born on Tuesday, April 20, 1943 in Dyersburg, TN to the union of the late Rev. Halbert and Mary Alice Walker McElrath.  He was the second oldest of five children.  He attended school in Wardell, Missouri after moving there with his family, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1963.  After retiring from the service in 1985 he left his homeplace and made his own home with his children in Selmer, TN.

He leaves to mourn his passing:  a son, Jimmy Micheal (Anke) McElrath; a daughter, Sonja Maria (Jarvis) McElrath; two brothers, Harlan (Francisca) McElrath of Jackson, TN and Wilbert (April) McElrath of Nashville, TN; one sister, Mary S. (David) McElrath-Holmes of Selmer, TN; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to mourn his passing.