James Wesley McCandless

June 23, 1939 - December 10, 2013

Mr. James Wesley McCandless, Sr, well known Master Barber for over 36 years in Columbia, passed away at his Water Valley Rd residence, in Santa Fe, on Tuesday evening, December 10, 2013.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, December 14 at 1:00 PM from the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home, officiated by Ronnie Johnson and Keith Baker. Burial will follow in Santa Fe Cemetery. The family will be at the funeral home on Friday, December 13 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM for visitation. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Wesley was born June 23, 1939 in Williamson County and was the son of James William McCandless and Mary Alice Griggs McCandless.

Wesley’s career as a master barber was the perfect fit for his personality. He was blessed with the “gift of gab”, according to his family. He never met a stranger and could often find the common friend or family member in the course of a conversation. While coon hunting in Wyoming, Wesley met a man and they had a common friend. Needing to move on, he was encouraged to end the conversation but said, “Give me five minutes and we’ll be related!”
He loved to travel, whether or not he was coon hunting. He traveled around the United States, Canada and Mexico. He was a giving and caring person who would think of others before himself.

Wesley’s faith was lived out in his membership and involvement with the Taylor’s Chapel Baptist Church, and before at the Elmore Nazarene Church.

In addition to his parents, Wesley was preceded in death by his first wife: Shirley Ann Dodson McCandless; two brothers: Loyd and Carl McCandless; and three sisters: Hazel McCandless Montgomery, Lelia Jane McCandless and Rhetha McCandless Burckett; and a step-son: Donnie McCandless.

He is survived by his wife: Mary Frances Moss McCandless of Santa Fe; four children: Mary Jane (Dean) Adkisson of Santa Fe, James Wesley “Beau” (Billie Jo) McCandless, Jr. of Columbia, Hattie McCandless (James) Pierce and Annette (Eddie) Martin, both of Santa Fe; three sisters: Dorothy McCandless Hubbell of Columbia, Tiny (J.B.) Johnson and Hattie Marie Nesbitt of Franklin; two brothers: Ewell (Kathy) McCandless and Harry Joe McCandless, both of Franklin; a step-son: Ronnie McCandless; step-daughter: Shelly McCandless; nine grandchildren: Shane Adkisson, Amanda (Jeremy) Cook, Breanna (Carlos) Sandoval, Kayla Martin, Jessica (Christopher) Dobek, Steven (Ashley) McCandless, Brandy Martin, James Robert Martin and Nathan Pierce; 7 great-grandchildren; and 8 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be: James McCandless, William McCandless, Michael Montgomery, Charles Montgomery, Mark Montgomery, Michael Ray Montgomery, James Robert Martin, and Nathan Pierce.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Dan Green, Pruitt Hyatt, Raymond Burns, all his special friends, and his many dedicated customers.

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