from the Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)

Madison – James (Jim) Stanford Nippes died unexpectedly Monday evening, May 16, 2022, at his home in Madison, Mississippi.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, May 22, at Sebrell Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Visitation will be from 2 PM – 4 PM on Saturday, May 21, 2022, and on Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 1 PM – 2 PM.

Jim was born on July 10, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1965; from Yale University in 1969 with a double major in Physics and History; and from the University of Mississippi Law School in 1973. After receiving an LLM Degree in Tax Law from the University of Miami in 1974, he moved to Jackson and practiced law with a focus on complex corporate and real estate transactions with tax consequences, until retiring five years ago. Jim was highly respected by his peers for his technical expertise, document drafting, and congenial personality.

In 1980, Jim met, fell in love with, and married Maggie Marsh. Jim and Maggie were partners in life, and their family became the center of his life. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Their home in Madison and Scrooge’s restaurant were the preferred places for large gatherings of family and friends. Jim was a constant presence at school functions and every sporting event of his son Marsh, his daughter Ginny, and his grandchildren Joseph and Kimberly.

Truth be told, Jim was spooky smart and often had to wait for the rest of us to catch up. His most excellent brain accommodated many interests. Sports and personal fitness were important to him. He was an avid fan of the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Phillies. He enjoyed weightlifting and exercised religiously every day. Jim enjoyed reading history books, working the daily New York Times crossword puzzle, playing video war games, and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his new flip phone.

Jim was a big guy with a bigger heart. Because of his loving, daily attention to his 98-year-old mother-in-law, Ginny, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of every character and episode of Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, Hogan’s Heroes, The Andy Griffith Show, MASH, Leave It to Beaver, and Father Knows Best. Jim talked to his dogs, Karl and Reggie, as equals and expected them to understand, and loved sneaking hot dogs and hamburgers to them.

Jim is survived by his wife of 42 years, Margaret (Maggie) Marsh Nippes; son Robert Marsh Nippes (Yi Hu) of Jackson, Mississippi; daughter Virginia Schaeffer Nippes (James Michael Slaughter II) of Madison, Mississippi; grandson Joseph David Nippes and granddaughter Kimberly Anne Nippes of Jackson, Mississippi; sister Virginia Holst Opperman (Pieter) of Nokomis, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his father Arthur Stanford Nippes and his mother Margaret Alice Nippes of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Memorials may be made to the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Baseball Program, 370 Old Agency Road, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157, or gifts may be made online by visiting www.gosaints.org/memorialgifts.