Retired Sergeant Major Jimmy Frank Capshaw of Geneva, AL passed away peacefully on Friday, May 22, 2026 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was 95.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 at Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home in Geneva, AL. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Jimmy was born in Geneva, AL on May 02, 1931 to the late Claudia Caesar and Mary Senchana “Sennie” Thompson Capshaw. After attending Geneva High School, he began his distinguished military career of 33 years serving his country. After serving in the Alabama National Guard for 2 years, he joined the army and attended basic training in Fort Jackson, SC and transferred to Ft. Bliss, TX. He was deployed to Korea and served 10 months with the 15th Field Artillery, later being assigned to the Panama Canal Zone with the 903rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion as Section Leader. He also served as Section Leader in the 3rd Automatic Weapons Battalion in Ft. Bragg, NC.
In 1961 he returned to Korea serving with the 34th Infantry as Platoon Sergeant, after which he served as Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant with the 50th Armored Rifle Battalion while assigned to Wildflecken, Germany. Here he met the love of his life, his wife, Kitty. He proudly served as an ROTC Instructor at Marion Institute in Alabama. Jim served two tours in Vietnam, first with the 1st Infantry Division at Dian and the 7th Cavalry, serving through four campaigns as First Sergeant.
After returning from Vietnam, he became involved in support of the Reserve as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the 156th Infantry and later he served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard as Senior Military Advisor, until his retirement in 1982. Jim enlisted as a Private and rose to Sergeant Major in 1975, having completed six tours overseas, training in eight different military academies and completing numerous specialized courses. His distinguished military honors included two Bronze Stars, two Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and Drill Sergeant Badge.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Candace Capshaw; siblings, Claudine Starrett, Julia Ivey, Lucile Capshaw, Patsy Skipper and Hershel Capshaw.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Kitty E. Capshaw; son, Jimmy F. Capshaw, Jr. (Teresa); grandson, Chase Capshaw; granddaughter, Courtney Mancin (Trey); three great grandchildren, Tripp Capshaw, Matthias Mancin, Ryleigh Capshaw; two sisters, JoAnn Spencer and Cynthia Post; sister-in-law, Vonzene Hand-Capshaw and many special nieces and nephews.
Warren~Holloway~Ward Funeral Home (334) 684-9999, is in charge of arrangements. “Continuing The Trust You’ve Placed In Us” To sign a guest register, please visit: www.whwfuneralhome.com
