James A. "Jimmy" Desporte

Known to most as Jimmy, James A. Desporte passed away in his hometown on August 16, 2021 at the age of 79. His battle with serious medical issues the past two years showed his courage and his love of life as he faced the challenges with relentless determination. Despite his pain, he always greeted family and friends with a smile on his face. Born to James A. Desporte and Eva Marie Langley Desporte on February 28, 1942, Jimmy was a lifelong resident of the coast growing up in Biloxi and what is now d'Iberville. He was a proud graduate of the Biloxi High Class of 1959 and enjoyed planning for and attending reunions with his classmates. After high school, Jimmy dabbled with college and the military but quickly realized that he was destined for the business world. What began as a one man show, Jimmy opened up Biloxi Paper Company in 1968 taking orders in the mornings and loading trucks making deliveries in the afternoons. Because of his and his wife's work ethics, Biloxi Paper grew becoming a mainstay on the coast for hotel, janitorial and office supplies. The family-owned business that he began and is now run by his family has been in operation over 50+ years. Even in his retirement, part of his daily routine included stopping by Biloxi Paper in the mornings to drink coffee and read the newspaper. While that is true, this was his way of keeping his thumb on his baby. All that knew him knew very well that he was a man who could not sit still. In his younger days, he volunteered with several community service organizations to include being a charter member of the North Biloxi Jaycees serving as president. He was also the first president of the St. Martin Youth Organization and served as a member of the Biloxi Business Club. There was no leisure for Jimmy. If he wasn't working at Biloxi Paper Company, volunteering in the community, or attending business meetings, in his younger years he could be seen on his beloved Jimmy D shrimp boat or cutting grass at Camp Good Times up until his death. His children would laughingly say that he was so tight that he squeaked. He did squeak, but he was equally as generous supporting Heritage United Methodist Church and St. Judes as well as several other charitable organizations. Knowing death was imminent, he put his family and close friends at peace declaring how ready he was to meet Jesus and to be reunited with Linda, his wife of 50 years. No doubt they are once again eating doughnuts together. James A. Desporte, Jimmy, Jim Bob or whatever he was affectionately called was preceded in death by his wife Linda; his parents, James and Eva; his brothers, David and Paul; and his beloved dog Daisy. He is survived by his four children, Terry Osborne (David), Dina Holland (Mark), Anthony Desporte (Carolyn) and Dale Desporte (Malette); his sister, Charlotte Young (Ray); 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends. Jimmy Desporte was a son, a father, a grandfather, a Christian, and one heck of a human being. The family would like to thank all for the outpouring of prayers and a special thanks to his special caregivers, Shika and Marie, from Care 4 All. They treated him with dignity, respect, and like family. In lieu of flowers, please consider monetary donations to Heritage United Methodist Church where he was a lifelong member. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 12:00 pm at Heritage United Methodist Church on Popps Ferry Road in Biloxi. Friends may visit from 10:00 am until service time. Entombment will follow at Southern Memorial Park on Highway 90. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Desporte family.