BENTON -- James C. Jamerson, 71, of Benton, formerly of East Prairie, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born May 20, 1929, in Portageville, son of James Corbit and Nola Johnson Jamerson. He married Pansy "Pat" Shackelford Sept. 24, 1949. She survives.

He had lived near Benton for the past 15 years, moving from East Prairie where he was a retired carpenter. He was a member of the Diehlstadt General Baptist Church.

Survivors include, three sons, James E. Jamerson of Millington, Tenn., Tony D. Jamerson of Benton and Paul V. Jamerson of East Prairie; four daughters, Diane Miskell of Bunker Hill, Ill., Nola Craig of Caruthersville, Rita Thorn of Park Hills and Shirley Hedges of Charleston; two brothers, Harvey Jamerson of Granite City, Ill., and Roy Jamerson of Bonne Terre; four sisters, Cassie Gould of Texas, Pearl Whittemore of Bonne Terre, Marlene Meadows of Lesterville,and Lois Taylor of Lebanon; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

A brother and sister preceded him in death.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie, with Mark Odle officiating.

Burial will be in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.