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James Allen Sansing, 88, died peacefully at his home in Columbus, MS on Sunday, May 28th, 2023.

James "Switchy" Sansing was born March 17, 1935, in Columbus, to the late Jobie Fletus Sansing and Emma Mae Bush Sansing.  He was a retired educator and a lifelong resident of Columbus MS.  "Switchy" had a life full of adventure, earning his nickname riding his pony to Barrow Elementary School, and moving on to training and racing horses. Prior to graduation from Lee High School, he joined the Army in 1952 and was sent to La Rochelle France, where he fell in love with everything French. He was honorably discharged in 1955 at the rank of Sergeant. He wanted to pursue being a pilot, but he couldn't advance to the officer's academy due to a childhood eye injury.

James had three sons with his first wife Dorothy Graham of Columbus.  He had his hands full between working in real estate, raising three boys, attending college, and racing stock cars.  He excelled in education, earning his BS (1960) and Master's degree in education from MS State University in 1962. In 1969 he married Doris Brownlee Hall.  James continued to pursue his education and earned his Ph.D. in Secondary Education in 1971.  He owned Bob's Harley Davidson from 1971 to 1978, getting his children and stepchildren into motorcycling and racing. James worked over 20 years in education prior to retiring from the State.  James loved history and was a great storyteller with the driest sense of humor around. He loved racing to the core from being a jockey to racing cars and motorcycles. James was generous and kindhearted, he would help anyone that needed it and was happy to take in stray animals. He had many hobbies from fishing to collecting antiques and building model airplanes. He was a cowboy at heart, who loved to tinker and build things.  In retirement, he enjoyed time with family and friends and spent many years working with his sons rebuilding vintage racing motorcycles.

James is survived by his sons Terry Sansing, AR, James G Sansing, and Henry Sansing, stepdaughter Melissa Hall Thompson and his sister Emmagene Sansing, NC, his brother Joe Sansing, TX, his former spouse Doris Brownlee Hall Sansing, and George Green, who was like a son to him, his grandchildren Michelle Robbins, Christopher Wharton, Sandy Sansing, Terry L. Sansing, Joshua Sansing, Sidney Sansing, April Thompson Beasley, Charli Beth Thompson, Jessica Thompson Havis and eleven great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Leon Sansing, Laverne Sansing, GA, Walter Sansing, stepson, Robert "Bo" Hall, grandson, Adam Sansing, and former wife Dorothy G. Conley.

Graveside service will be held at Ethelsville Baptist Church Cemetery, Sunday, June 4th, at 2:00 p.m. 5111 4th Street, Ethelsville, AL  35461

Memorials can be made to Lowndes County Humane Society, 50 Airline Road, Columbus, MS 39701, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:  Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105