James “Jimmy” Leon Akin, Sr. was born April 7, 1948 in Bridgeport, AL. On May 30, 2025 he joined his heavenly Father and reunited with his beloved Judy. He saw his faith become sight and is at rest in the arms of Jesus. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1966 and then enlisted in the Marines and proudly served his Country with a tour in Vietnam. He was a brave Marine and would often share with tears in his eyes ho it was God that spared his life and brough him home. In 1968 he married his high school sweet heart Judy Hill. They lived in several locations before settling down in Bridgeport. They kept busy with work and raising their four children and were blessed to become grandparents. The were faithful members of the Abbotts Chapel. Jimmy testified how his life was dramatically changed when he surrendered to Jesus and was transformed to be a devoted husband, father, and “Granddaddy”. Jimmy enjoyed football, playing in high school and supporting his sons as they played and his daughters as cheerleaders and enjoyed rooting for the “Tide” and taking in some games with his family. Jimmy and Judy enjoyed traveling. They both had health challenges in their senior years and had miraculous recoveries. The Lord kept and sustained Jimmy to take care of Judy as her health failed in the last year of her life. They were quite the duo, rarely apart from each other. They enjoyed visiting family and friends and spreading cheer as they could. Jimmy was a good Christian neighbor and friend and tried to help when he could. He fought the good fight of faith and will be missed by all friends and family. Jimmy is survived by his children, Lisa Pylant, James “Jimmy Lee” Akin, Jr., Kandall (Josh) Griffith, and Randall (Mandy) Akin; grandchildren who called him ‘Granddaddy”, Mackenzie, Blake (Keith), Robert (Megan) Pylant, Zoe Holder, Katie and Noah Griffith, Alexander (Catalina), Savannah, Skyler, Zada, Taevyn, Kason, and Benjamin Akin; great grandson, Zachary Pylant; sisters in law, Kay, Mary Joe, Lanora, Valarie, Cheryl, Jenny, and Margaret; brother in law, Mike; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and other family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, James F. “Busy” Akin and Bertha Lee Ferguson Akin; siblings, Kenneth Akin, Faye Marie Akin, Shirley Akin Thacker, and Jerry Wayne Akin; brothers in law, Wilbert, Butch, and Gary; great grandson, Brian Andrew Pylant and beloved wife of 56 years, Judith “Judy” Marie Akin. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 and the funeral will be 2 PM Friday June 6, 2025 from the Valley Funeral Home Chapel in Stevenson with Nathan Kennedy officiating. Jimmy will be honored with a military burial in the Abbotts Chapel Cemetery in Bridgeport.