Father James Pugh's Obituary
Father James L. Pugh was called home to God August 9, 2019 at Ave Maria Home where he lived after his retirement. He was 77. He was born in in Memphis, Tennessee on November 27, 1941. He was adopted at age three by Robert and Pauline Pugh and he grew up in Nashville. After high school graduation he entered St. Bernard College/Seminary in Cullman, Alabama and he was ordained a Priest of Christ in Nashville on April 29, 1967.He served his first assignment as Associate Pastor at The Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception in Memphis, after which he was assigned to various churches in that capacity. He was assigned as Pastor at St. John, Incarnation, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anne, St. Andrews, St. Regina, and St. Paul Churches. He also taught at St. Agnes/St. Dominic, St. Louis, Memphis Catholic, St. Paul, and CBHS where he was inducted into the CBHS Hall of Fame. He earned a Master’s of Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary/University in Baltimore and he was the first Catholic Priest to earn a Master’s from Memphis Theological Seminary and that was in Old Testament Studies.After retirement he entered St. Bernard Abbey. Due to medical issues he returned to Memphis and he chose Ave Maria as his home where he served the residents and staff. He celebrated Mass up until the day God called him. Fr. Pugh is now with God and countless people that are with God as a result of the life and love of Fr. Jim Pugh.There will be a time of visiting and sharing of memories on Tuesday, August 13th from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Avenue in Memphis. There will be a funeral mass on Wednesday, August 14th at eleven o’clock in the morning also at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The committal service will immediately follow, via an escorted cortege, at Calvary Cemetery,1663 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis.In lieu of customary remembrances please make donations in the name of Father Pugh to Ave Maria Home, 2805 Charles Bryan Road, Bartlett, Tennessee 38134.
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