James David Pellham, 80, of Dallas formerly of Panola County, passed away on Monday, July 3, 2017, at his farm in Beckville. He was born on Feb. 19, 1937, in Panola County to the late Jimmie Mosel and Charlcy Virginia Adams Pellham. He graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1955, and attended Panola College. In 1959, he graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton with a bachelor's degree in accounting and was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. David served his country in the U.S. National Guard. He married Sandra Sandlin on Aug. 19, 1962, in Bienville, LA. Mr. Pellham worked as a private investigator for Pinkerton Detective Agency and later opened his own business, Universal Investigations, where he was a pioneer in the industry. He also worked as a rancher in Panola County for most of his life. Mr. Pellham loved aviation and enjoyed piloting his own plane. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Judy Ann Pellham.

Mr. Pellham is survived by his wife, Sandra; children, David Glenn Pellham and partner Sher, Jeni Shipman and husband Mike, and Holly Davis and husband Stubbs; sister, Betty Watts; brother-in-law, Jim Watts; and grandchildren, Jonathon Shipman, Megan Shipman, Jacquelyn Pellham, Nicholas Pellham, Luke Davis and Landry Davis.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Carl Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in Youngblood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Jonathon Shipman, Luke Davis, James Neal Kirkham, Clifton Sandlin, Anthony Sandlin, Jay Fortenberry, Ken Myers, Wesley Craig, and Nick Larsen.

Honorary pallbearers are Jim Watts, Robert Kirkham, Rudy Snow, Buddy Tompkins, Herman Collins, Wesley Boddie, Phillip, Singleton, and Leo Hunt.

The family requests that memorial donations in Mr. Pellham's memory be made to Youngblood Freewill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 554, Beckville, TX 75631.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.