James Graham Puckett III

James Graham Puckett, III, passed away at his home on Thursday, August 7, 2025. An avid outdoorsman, James loved to hunt, fish, and play golf; he was 89 years old.

Born October 26, 1935 in Rockwell, NC, James was the fourth son of James Graham Puckett, Jr. and Thayer Lucille Sink Puckett. Growing up in Rockwell, he worked alongside his brothers on the family tobacco and dairy farm, lettered in both baseball and basketball, and graduated from Rockwell High School in 1954. He married his high school sweetheart, Greia Ann Cruse on December 27, 1953. James and family moved to Raleigh, NC, in 1958 where he began a distinguished 36-year career with Sears Roebuck & Co., retiring in 1994 as Manager of the Charlotte Credit Central.

In addition to his parents, James was predeceased in death by his beloved wife Ann (May 31, 2001) and his second wife, Joyce Rossean Puckett (November 27, 2022); his brothers and their wives, Jerre Dean Puckett, Sr., (Frankie), Jean Carrick Puckett (Carolyn), and Lee Brooks Puckett (Evelyn); sisters-in-law, Mary Roseman Puckett and Dottie Brown Puckett; nephews, Garry Duran Puckett and Jerre Dean Puckett, Jr., and a niece, Susan Puckett Watkins.

Surviving to mourn and miss him are his brothers Derwood Sink Puckett and Guy Marshal Puckett (Betty); his daughters and their husbands, Mitzi Puckett Stewart (Robert Kinsley), Jamie Karan Puckett-Lee (Michael), and Lydia Puckett Armenta (Armando); four grandchildren, Kameran Lee Clapp (Casey), Hannah Mikal Lee (Zach Mayo), Armando Marcus Armenta, and James Monroe Armenta (Dani); two great grandsons, Kieran Michael and Callum Whitley Clapp; many nieces and nephews; and his cherished orange tabby cat, Logan.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Organ Lutheran Church Cemetery, 1515 Organ Church Rd., Salisbury, NC 28146. Family and guests are invited to gather for visitation and a meal at The Garrison Venue, 1138 Providence Church Rd., Salisbury, NC 28146, immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Historic Rockwell Foundation, P.O. Box 35, Rockwell, NC 28138-0035 or Organ Lutheran Church.