James Coy Danner, age 97, a resident of the Elamville Community, died Friday, August 27, 2021 at Elba Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Funeral services for Mr. Danner were held Monday, August 30, 2021 at 11am at Elamville Baptist Church with Rev. Joe Underwood and Rev. Kenneth Earles officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Visitation was held prior to the service from 9:30-11:00 am at the church.
Coy is survived by his wife of 76 years, Evelyn Danner and his daughter, Carol Barr (Arlie); Grandchildren, Denise Adams (David), Keith Barr (Dawn); Great grandchildren, Logan Barr, Abbie Barron, Lauren Barr, Emma Barr, Blake Barron, Kasey Churchwell, Kayli Adams, Drew Pridgen, Will Pridgen, and Kaylea Pridgen and Great, great grandchildren Weston Weeks and Wyatt Church well as well as his baby sister, Lena Kate Harden (John) and a sister-in-law Faye Carroll and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Purry and Annie Danner, Brothers Homer Danner (Allie), P.L. Danner, Jr. (Nyral), Elmer Danner (Dorothy) and sisters Ruth Brock (Lloyd), Lorene Garrett (Robert), Ruby Sutton (Hubert), Bernice Key (Rochell) as well as a grandson, David Tildon Barr, and brother and sisters-in-law Lester Ketchum (Estelle), Harold Ketchum (Marietta), Merle Willis (Arthur), Frances Graham (Jimmy), Jewel Dean Graham (William), Mary Waters (Rochford), and Bobby Carroll.
He also lost several close friends in recent years including Alec Brock, Dr. Stroud Jackson, George Wallace, McDowell Lee, Roy Burke Ketcham and a special nephew Charles Brock. Pallbearers were Keith Barr, Logan Barr, David Adams, Blake Barron, James Ketchum, Robert Garrett Jr., Peewee Sutton.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be: VFW Post 7055 Honor Guard, Trawick Garner and his nephews. Coy, along with his father and brothers, were master brick masons and traveled many miles to jobs in surrounding areas and laid thousands of bricks and blocks on many buildings and houses.
Additionally, he was a rural mail carrier on the Clio route where he delighted in treating the children with candy and customers with jokes and stories. He also raised peanut crops during the time he was a mail carrier.
After his retirement from the postal service, he became actively involved in the Clio Senior Citizen Center and its activities, with his favorite being dominoes.
Coy’s greatest accomplishment was his service to his country during World War II in the Navy, on the USS Ticonderoga where he sailed to many areas to include the Panama Canal Zone, San Salvador Island, Balboa, the Marshall Islands, Ulithi Atoll where the ship was attacked by the Japanese, before returning to Pearl Harbor and Puget Sound, Washington.
He witnessed the death of many fellow sailors, friends, and commanders and was haunted by the memories of the war.
In respect for all veterans, he was instrumental in designing and building a Veteran’s Memorial picture display in the Clio Heritage Building. He also participated in many memorial services that are annually held at Elam Baptist Church on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.
His happiest times were spent with his family and friends, and sharing “the cheese” with them. He will be missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: VFW Post 7055 Scholarship Fund, co/ Henry Middlebrooks 717 County Road 6631, Banks, AL 36005 or Children’s Hospital. To sign the online guest register please visit our website at dillardfh.com
