Retired Smith County Farm Bureau Agency manager, Mr. Jim Broyles, entered into eternal rest at the Highpoint-Health-Riverview Regional Medical Center, in Carthage, on May 25, 2025, at the age of 81. He was admitted there on May 23, 2025.
Funeral services from his beloved First Baptist Church Carthage were scheduled for 1 p.m., May 28, 2025, with Bro. Tim Frank assisted by Bro. Jim Wilburn officiating. Burial followed in the Gazebo Garden at the Dixon Springs Cemetery.
Born James Thomas Broyles, in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, on Feb. 8, 1944, he was one of six children of the late William Ray Broyles, who died at the age of 76, on Sept. 8, 1980, and Mattie Lula Bradley Broyles, who died at the age of 94, on Jan. 23, 2001. At the age of 2, the family relocated to Sparta where he would grow up on the family farm.
Preceding Mr. Broyles in death were siblings, Roberta Broyles, who died Sept. 11, 1936 at the age of 6, longtime Jackson County Farm Bureau agent Ralph Douglas Broyles, who died Aug. 13, 2019 at the age of 82, and his wife, Patricia Ann “Patsy” Broyles, who died Aug. 1, 2018, at the age of 78; brother-in-law, Charles Bruce Vaughn, who died May 11, 2015, at the age of 85; and a sister-in-law, Martha Sue Bell Broyles, who died Sept. 20, 2024 at the age of 90.
Mr. Broyles was a 1962 graduate of White County High School, where he was a standout, All Mid-State running back for the Sparta Warriors’ football team.
He continued his education at Tennessee Technological University, in Cookeville, where he again excelled in the football program under then Coach Wilburn Tucker, and where from 1962 -1966 he was known and recognized for his determination and hard-hitting plays on the field.
While at Tech, he met and married the love of his life, Rockwood, Tennessee, native and fellow student the former Betty Jane “Betsy” Evans, and the wedding was solemnized on June 18, 1965.
Following graduation, Mr. Broyles proudly served our country with the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1967-1969, stationed in Germany and was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant.
Upon his discharge from the Army, he and Betsy moved to Carthage where, in 1969, he began what would become a 40-year career with the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, based in Columbia, Tennessee, and served as the Smith County agency manager from 1990 until his retirement in 2009.
Mr. Broyles was a faithful and dedicated member of First Baptist Church Carthage since 1969 and where he served as Sunday School teacher, deacon, and trustee for over 40 years in those positions.
He had a great love for farming and agriculture and raised black Angus cattle on his farms in Smith County for over 50 years.
Surviving in addition to his beloved wife Betsy of almost 60 years are their two children, Janet Fay (Jan) Broyles Trainham and husband James Edward Trainham II, of the Monville Community; Thomas Patrick (Tom) Broyles and wife Amy Fowler Broyles, of the Riddleton community; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Eatherly Trainham Little and husband Parrish, James Edward Trainham III and wife Emma, Lena Kay Broyles Franey and husband Tucker, William Thomas Broyles and wife Kristen, John Bowman Broyles, all of Carthage; one great-grandson, Henry James Little; sister, Martha Broyles Vaughn; and two brothers, Kenneth Ray Broyles, Leon Broyles and wife Martha Jane, all of Sparta.
The Broyles family requests memorials to the First Baptist Church Carthage Building Fund.
Sanderson Funeral Home, in Carthage was in charge of arrangements.
