The Reverend James M. Osborne, a native of North Carolina, was born October 18, 1852, and died in Graysville, Tenn., November 16, 1939.
On august 4, 1875, he married Martha E. Brown, who survives him to mourn his passing. To this union were born two children, a son who died in infancy, and a daughter, Amy, who died at the age of twenty-two.
Early in life Brother Osborne professed faith in Christ and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He felt the call to the ministry and answered the challenge by serving as a local preacher and supply preacher for a number of years before he was admitted ton trial in the Holston Conference in 1906. He was admitted into full connection in 1911. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Vincent in 1898 and Elder by Bishop Henderson in 1913. After his admission on trial he served the following pastorates: Maryville Circuit, Chatata, Vine Grove-Spring City, and Graysville. He suffered a physical breakdown in 1922 and retired from the active ministry, but continued to be a loyal devoted member of the Graysville Church contributing much to the spiritual life of that church, the pastors and the community at large.
In spite of his frailty and physical suffering he continued his study, composing a sermon daily and preaching occasionally for the Graysville charge.
The funeral service was conducted in the Graysville Methodist Church by Rev. Joe M. Hampton and the pastor, Rev. Ralph Cline. He was laid to rest in the Pleasant View cemetery at Graysville, Tenn.
‘Uncle Jim’, as he was affectionately known, was an inspiration to all who knew him and he is greatly missed in the community, but he leaves an excellent testimony of a life patterned after Christ, and truly he has received a crown at last.
Source: Methodist Episcopal Church. Official Journal of the Holston Annual Conference of the Methodist Church. 1940.
