James William “Jake” Waddell, III, age 48, passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 3:00 PM at the Brownsville Funeral Home with Bro. Mark Gaylor officiating. Burial will follow at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, from 12:00 Noon until the service hour of 3:00 PM at the Brownsville Funeral Home. 

Jake was born on March 24, 1976, in Jackson, TN to James William Waddell, Jr. and Lynne Richards Waddell. Jake was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He closely followed The Word of God and shared it freely with others. He found much success in all his life’s activities, be it high school and collegiate sports, horse and dog training, farming, or hunting and fishing. Jake had a kinship with God’s creation and was among the few who not only appreciated the land but could also live off it.  A man of many talents, he could also repair and create things. He often used such skills to help others. A Christian, Jake displayed incredible faith. Facing the possibility of his own passing, he asked not that anyone pray for him, but that they pray instead for his family.

Jake is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer Waddell of Brownsville, TN; his daughters, Kiersten (Gavin) Watkins of Jackson, TN, Kalyn (Tillman) McRae of Brownsville, TN, Harper Waddell and Hallie Waddell; his father, Jim Waddell of Brownsville, TN; his sister, Jayme Waddell (Justin) Spencer of Jackson, TN; his grandmother, Peggy Waddell of Brownsville, TN; one niece, Stella Spencer; three nephews, Noah Spencer, Ben Spencer and Jack Spencer. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lynne Waddell, and his grandparents, Jimmy Waddell, Frank and Laura Richards. 

Pallbearers for the service will be Al Hughes, Matthew Simmons, Mitch Prince, Josh Poole, Taylor Wilson, Justin Spencer, Noah Spencer, and Ben Spencer. Honorary Pallbearers are Jerry Hunter, Wade Griffin, Bill Hunt, Josh Crutchfield, John Warren, David Barnes and Tim Sills, Jr. (In Memory)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jake Waddell Fund, c/o InSouth Bank, P.O. Box 879, Brownsville, TN, 38012 or to the Honor Jake’s Memory Go Fund Me account at https://gofund.me/e856b12c

All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Group in Brownsville, TN.