Jimmy Helton

James (Jimmy) Kermit Helton, age 82, went to his eternal home, Beulah Land, March 16, 2022. He passed away surrounded by his daughters singing to him with the echoes of his Southern gospel music in the background.

Jimmy was born June 23, 1939, in Isabella, Tennessee. He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Vivian Stillwell Helton; his parents, Kermit and Montie Helton; brother, Truman Helton; sister, Helen Lewis; and sister, Arlene Newman.

He is survived by his three daughters, Lisa (Randy) Carroll, Karen (Sam) Austin and Crystal (Taylor) Newman; as well as his grandchildren Zachary (Monica) Carroll, Benjamin Austin, Rachel, Alexandra and Cole Newman. He is also survived by sister, Marlene Davis; sister, Shirley Parris, brother, Rex Helton; sister, Susan Robinson; and many nieces and nephews.

Jimmy was a well known, if not legendary, singer and entertainer. He began his almost 78-year music career at the age of 4, when his mother stood him beside her on the piano bench and he sang “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.” His mother then took Jimmy, his sisters, Marlene, Arlene and Shirley, around the region to perform as the Helton Family Singers and were later joined by sister Susan.

He found time to play baseball and learn to play the tenor saxophone and trombone. He marched in the Copper Basin High School band and served as Drum Major. In 1958, he was elected President of the Polk County Singing Convention, serving through 1959.

He attended the Westminster Choir College, in Princeton, New Jersey, where he credits Dr. Harold Headpath for molding his voice into what it became. In the 1960s, Jimmy served as a choir director for Temple Baptist Church, in Blue Ridge, and stepped in to be the interim band director for Copper Basin High School a few times. His voice graced the airwaves of WLSB in Copperhill as a disc jockey.

He performed with The Melody Boys, The Craftsman, The Southland Harmony and The Dixie Heirs. In the early 1970s, he helped to pioneer The Ambassadors and served as their lead singer until they retired in 1996. In those 25 plus years, they toured much of the country, performed on the Grand Ole Opry, appeared on the PTL Network and, in 1995, were inducted into the Georgia Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Finally, he sang with the Plainsmen Quartet.

Outside of singing, Jimmy worked as an electrician for City Service/Tennessee Copper Company for over 35 years. He was a member of the IBEW Local 175 Union out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church McCaysville/Copperhill, where he sang in the choir, served as a deacon for many years and worked on both the sound and heritage room committees.

He had a knack for giving signals to the sound operators from the top left corner of the choir loft every Sunday morning if something didn’t sound just right. He was a very active member of both the Basin and Fannin communities. He was regularly seen before and after any event setting up and taking down a sound system. He was an organizer of the First Tuesday singings held long ago in Ducktown. He performed for countless weddings and funerals over the years, and most notably sang God Bless the USA as the Olympic Torch made its way through town in 1996.

He acted in community theater programs and was an extraordinary storyteller. He was recently featured telling a story in the Debbie Moore Documentary “It’s Home: Memories of the Ducktown Basin.”

In recent years, he had moved to Chattanooga to be nearer to his daughters and grandchildren, but he always missed his hometown. He was a wonderful father that lived a life dedicated to serving others whether that was through song or just being there for whoever needed him. He was a man of great faith and considered it his honor to share the gospel with so many.

Even in his last days, he was able to inspire and bless those helping with his care from Hearth Hospice and Ardent Senior Care. Any talented person could sing a song, but only those truly anointed by God’s grace can make it a ministry and leave behind a legacy like his.

The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church McCaysville/Copperhill Saturday, March 26, 2022, from noon to 3 p.m. with a celebration of life service to follow at 3 p.m. Reverend Wallace Pruitt and Reverend Bradley Elliott will be officiating with a musical performance by Brad Harris.

Interment will follow at the Crestlawn Cemetery with a family graveside service officiated by Jerry Morrow. Pallbearers include: Zachary Carroll, Benjamin Austin, Cole Newman, Kermit Lee Davis, Eddie Good and Frank Swirk. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joel Parris, Darren Helton, Christopher McHan and Ron Swirk.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established the James K. Helton Memorial Scholarship at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for a member of The Pride of the Southland Band Majoring in music.

Donations may be made by visiting giving.utk.edu/jhelton or by mailing a check payable to UT Foundation, Inc. 1525 University Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37921 with memo: James K. Helton.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.

Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations, in Copperhill, is in charge of the arrangements.