Mack James of Empire died April 14, 2002. He was retired owner and operator of H. C. James Lumber Co., a WWII veteran of the Army Air Corps, member of the American Legion, Alabama Cattleman’s Association., Auburn Alumni Association, and Sumiton Church of God. He was a graduate of the class of 1938 and married classmate Mary York. They lived in the house Mack’s grandfather, William Mckinley Drummond, built around 1875 located off Empire Road between Sumiton and Empire. Mr. Drummond sold land to or gave rights of passage to the railroad. A switch was located at one corner of the property – leading to the area being called Drummond Switch.
He is survived by his daughter, Loretta James of Houston, Texas; son, Ronny James and his wife, Patsy of Quinton; granddaughter, Jayna Lacy and her husband, Andrew of Jasper. Pall bearers were Roger Russell, Floyd and Lloyd Burton, Tommy Raines, and Phillip and James Drummond.