Jimmy Dale Gentry

Marion, Va.

Jimmy Dale “Jimbo” Gentry age 51, went to be with his Heavenly Father, Tuesday, November 21, 2023  after a brief illness and hospital stay, at Norton Community Hospital, Norton, Va.

Jimmy was a kind man who never met a stranger. It didn’t matter who the person was, Jimbo was going to draw them into conversation and have a new friend by the end of it. He had a pure heart, that never ceased to grow and encompass all of those that he loved. Jimbo loved to play pool and was very talented. In truth, he treasured any activity that involved people. He was the definition of a people person. As a local to the area, he attended many Rhythm & Roots Reunions; and relished the opportunity of wading in the crowds and making new friends. He was an avid Texas Hold’em poker player at Stateline Bar & Grill, and was part of a league there. He never lost his love for animals - dogs and cats especially. It didn’t matter where he lived, Jimbo would find a cat to take in and would make a companion of it by the end of the day. In the last few years, he acquired an appreciation for creating art. This became his chosen outlet for dealing with life’s stressors; and as with everything else, he was fantastic at creating. Jimbo was a precious human who had the trusting heart of a child that was the size of Texas. He touched so many lives and made more of a difference than he could possibly ever know. The world was a brighter place with him in it.

He was preceeded in death by his beloved mother, Hazel Gentry of Bristol, Va.

Those left to cherish his memory are many and include, Jimbo’s chosen father, Mr. Doug Pritchard of Bristol - he filled that role with an unselfish, kind and giving heart; along with Sonia Stine who also loved Jimbo to distraction; Annette Estes, of Stateline Bar and Grill and Janet Atwell, of Borderline Billiards on State Street in Bristol were both a God send to Jimbo at times when he needed it most. They helped to create a sense of community and family for him when he felt lost. They fed him; and the billiards room especially, became a second home to him where he learned his great skill. A special thanks to Diana Carter of Bristol City Housing Authority who always assured that Jimbo had a warm, safe and dry place to live; others left to remember him and the good times they had include, Jim Daniels, Dennis and Diana Pritchard, Donnie Branson and the Bristol City Police Department, David Atwell, Jamie Marion, TAP League, Warren Charles, his fellow pool players at Borderline Billiards and his poker buddies at Stateline Bar and Grill.

His friends would also like to extend a special thanks to those that provided exceptional care for him during the last of his life: the staff at Golden Homestead ALF in Coeburn, Va. where he was treated like family and adored by all, as well as Norton Community Hospital who spoiled him during his final days.

Services for Jimbo will remain private.

To share memories of Jimmy Dale “Jimbo” Gentry, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Jimbo has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Funeral Service & Crematory.