James Elmer Sellers

     In the heart of Fort Myers, FL, a remarkable life journey came to a close on December 6th, 2024, at 9:01 p.m., when James E. Sellers (aka "Jimmy" and "Man"), 88, went home to be with the Lord.  He rededicated his life to Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior in 2017.

     Jimmy was born and raised in Fort Myers, FL, and was a valued member of the community all of his life.  His unwavering dedication and devotion to family serves as a lesson in being supportive and generous to loved ones. Jimmy's vibrant life story is woven with rich memories and profound connections. May we all strive to embody that same type of kindness, benevolence, and joy that defined his time with us. As we reflect on his legacy, we wish to honor the spirit of a man whose heart was as big as his talent.

We celebrate not only the love he consistently offered to those around him, but also his musical gifts.  Many lives were touched through his passion for music. He was well known for his gift for playing the dobro, the dulcimer, the steel guitar and especially the harmonica. He was self-taught at a very young age and played in many bands over the years and he could play any genre of music by ear with exceptional skill. He played at every opportunity.

       Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, his five siblings, his beloved wife of 49 years, Nancy Lee Gay Sellers, and granddaughter, Christana White, sister-in-law, Joy Gay Taylor, and many other friends and family.

He is survived by his son, Danny (Staci) White; daughter, Shirley Barr (John Main); grandsons, Michael (Jamie) Morrissey, Daniel (Alyssa) White; great-granddaughters, Dakota Courtade, Haylee Courtade, Dallas White, Gracie Ritchey, Chloe LaFlamme; great-grandson, Noah White; brother-in-law, Roy "Grub" Gay; dear friend, partner and faithful companion since 2017, Linda Root, and her daughter and son, Roz (John) McGill, and Daniel Root; and his grand-dogs, Banjo, Dobro, Winslo, Tebow, Wylie and Disco "da byrd."

   The family wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to Jimmy's RN case manager of four years, Paige Freeman; to Thandis Assisted Living facility in Fort Myers, who went above and beyond their expected duties; to the staff at VITAS Hospice in Fort Myers for their exceptional kindness and grace; to John Main for his personal assistance in innumerable ways and for transporting our father with great care to and from countless appointments; and to Roz McGill and her mother, Linda Root, for their tireless care and attention to Jimmy's daily needs for over seven years. We will be eternally grateful for everything you all have done to help.

     Friends and family will gather under the oak trees at his daughter Shirley's home in Buckingham on Saturday, December 14th, 2024, at 3 p.m., to celebrate and honor Jimmy's life together.  Remembering Jimmy is not just a farewell, but a commitment to keep his light shining through our actions and love for one another. May his spirit resonate within our hearts and the melodies he shared with us echo through our cherished memories. If you play an instrument, feel free to join in our celebratory "jam session" sendoff.

John 11:25 - "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.'"