The Reverend James Franklin Wrenn, age 72, of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away on February 6, 2023, from heart related issues. Jim was Minister to Senior Adults at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church until the day he passed. He lived with the impact of heart disease for many years yet had a determination to fulfill God’s calling on his life and continued to serve God and others until the very end. 

Jim loved music and missions. At 19 years of age he began leading music in church and faithfully served his Savior in the ministry for over 50 years. Most notably, he served as Minister of Music and Minister to Senior Adults at Glen Hope Baptist Church for 27 years, and a combined 12 years at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church. He also had a heart for missions and faithfully shared God's love on mission trips to Vermont, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Brazil, South Africa, and Zambia. He was a member of the North Carolina Baptist Singers for 25 years and served on the National Partnership Team of the Executive Board of Baptists on Mission.

Jim had an adventurous spirit; he loved to travel, ride roller coasters, visit historic sites and museums, and even tried out for The Amazing Race with one of his sons-in-law. In his younger years he played the guitar and sang in a country band, performed in the local community theater, and won local singing competitions. In his early 20s he pursued getting a pilot’s license (where he soloed) and became an amateur ham radio operator. He loved to learn and had a knack for remembering interesting facts, making him unbeatable at Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. After the children left home he took over the kitchen, and enjoyed cooking with his daughters and grandchildren when they visited. Jim loved to spend time watching movies at home or the Graham Cinema, going to baseball games, spending time with friends and family, and fishing. He had a fondness for peanuts, BBQ, hotdogs, ice cream, and York Peppermint Patties.

Jim enriched the lives of everyone he met. He was a hard worker who quietly and faithfully provided for and protected his family throughout his entire life, selflessly giving of himself to make their lives better. He had a servant’s heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his family and friends.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, help-meet, defender, and best friend of 50 years, Cindy; his 3 children, James “Jay” (Jamie) Wrenn, Allyn (Adam) Short, and Lauren (Marcus) Orr; his 7 grandchildren, Josiah and Jaedyn Wrenn, Arrington and Ashland Short, and Emily, Samuel, and Katie Orr; and his sister, Annie Jordan. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James Sr. and Dorothy Wrenn, and his aunt, Emily Buchanan.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 2 PM at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. The family will receive friends and loved ones at a reception immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: 

Baptists on Mission

Baptist State Convention of North Carolina

205 Convention Dr., Cary, NC 27511

www.baptistsonmission.org

Or:  

Baptists on Mission

Pleasant Garden Baptist Church

www.pgbc.com

We had a delightful lunch at Stamey's Barbeque on Monday, August 2, 2021 to catch up with classmates.  In attendance were Bud Parrish, Debbie Ingold Parrish, Wayne Alley, Phyllis Tew Alley, John Kelly and his wife, Cathy, Ron Whittle, Bill Baldwin, Patty Baysinger Wagner, Jerry Jones, Bobby Wood, Ken Melton, Kerry Trent and Rick Mooney.

Photographs from our 50th reunion have been posted in the "50th Reunion" page located on the left side of this page.