In Loving Memory of
James "Jimmy" E. Poffinbarger III
March 5, 1971 - September 7, 2003
  
Thank you to my dear friend Linda for this beautiful gift for Angel Jimmy's birthday!
Dear Jimmy,
Well here we are again at your birthday. Wow how time flies! You would be 38 now…almost impossible for me to believe. So many years have passed and yet it seems like only yesterday. Over the years, for the most part anyway, I think I have come to terms with your leaving us. By that I mean that I have found an inner peace that now lets me think of you and smile and remember things you did or said and laugh. It hasn’t always been that way… And there are still those times when the memories come and my heart breaks into a million pieces all over again and it hurts so much I can barely breathe. I don’t think those times will ever stop completely.
I remember different times over the years thinking of all the pros of having you as young as I did and one in particular kept coming to mind; when I turned 50 you would be 35….doesn’t seem like much of an age difference at this point. I remember thinking what a wonderful relationship we would have and what great friends we could be growing old together! But we never quite made it that far in years anyway. I think we were friends in a lot of ways though. I just wish for more…I don’t think the wishing will ever stop either.
I still listen to your answering machine when I need to hear your voice. I have videos, but they aren’t as current, they are mainly when you were younger. Listening to your machine is like you are in the same room with me. I wish you had said more on the recording, but I am thankful for what I have.
I still wonder so much about what happened that night and why it happened as it did, but for the most part I have stopped letting it make me crazy and just accept that you are in a better place and that you are happy now and that you don’t hurt anymore and are at peace. I still read all these silly books about the afterlife and mediums connecting with the other side trying to figure out what I believe, but really just wishing there was some way to have you here with me again … the only thing I am certain of is that I will see you again.
   
An hour doesn’t go by that I don’t think of you and wish you were still here with us. You are always on my mind
and I still love you beyond what words can describe. I miss you baby.
You are forever in my heart.
Love Always,
Mom
As he got older, Jimmy didn’t care very much for cake so we always had
cheesecake for his birthday. He loved cheesecake. And he could always guess
his presents, it drove me crazy! So one year I wrapped up a six pack of
Spaghetti O’s, something else he always loved, in a box stuffed with paper
and rocks thinking there was no way he could guess this present… but he did!
He always seemed to know.
Jimmy wasn’t the perfect son; he struggled so through parts of his life. Not
to say that he was never happy here, he was. His boys, his brother and his
family were always a shining light. I hope now he is always happy and he is
at peace and that his heart no longer aches.
For me, as the years roll by without him, my heart remains the same…broken.
There are no words to describe the feelings in my heart, it continues to
beat, I continue to breathe and life goes on. The minutes turn into hours,
the hours turn into days, the days turn into months
and the months turn into
years… and still my heart is broken… forever broken.
Happy Heavenly Birthday Jimmy!!
I miss you. You are forever in my heart. Love Mom.
This is a peace lily from Jimmy's funeral that his brother Mikey kept. My husband Mike and I have one just like it. Both plants had beautiful blooms for the funeral four and half years ago, but neither has ever bloomed again...until a couple of weeks ago!! Mikey's peace lily came to life and has two beautiful blooms now. I take this as a sign that Jimmy approves and is watching over his little brother and his new family with love and sharing all those special moments and memories with them as they move forward with their lives. I hope one day ours will bloom again too.
Jimmy loved to wear his Santa hat.
He wore it every Christmas from the time he was a teenager.
These are two beautiful and loving gifts for Angel Jimmy from my dear friend, Carol, mom to Angel Michael.
Jimmy with his first saxophone. (Actually this is the music stand
to go with his first saxophone!)
Jimmy in his first band.
As Long As Forever
I shall remember you for as long
As there are fields of snow,
And there are flowers in the ground
With strength to grow,
As long as there are stars above
And moonbeams on the sea,
And just as long as there are songs
Of love and memory.
I shall remember you today
And dream of you tonight,
And look for you tomorrow when
The sun begins to light.
Whatever season, month or year,
This much will be the same,
The only sound of joy will be
The mention of your name.
I shall remember you for as long
As there are earth and sky,
And all eternity
May take to say goodbye.
By James J. Metcalfe
~reprinted from the Queensland Australia TCF
August/Sept 2002
The picture on this tattoo is a portrait tattoo of Jimmy. Mikey, Jimmy's younger brother,
had this tattoo done on his leg in honor of his big brother...
shortly after
his death. Jimmy was very artistic and loved tattoo's.
When Jimmy's brother, Mikey, had his new race car painted and lettered for
the 2007 season, he wanted something special for Jimmy. He has always had his
"Crew from above" in the cockpit close to his seat. It started out with just
'Grandma' and now in the last few years he has added his brother Jimmy,
his
Grandpa Pops and his uncle Dean. But he wanted something else just for
Jimmy. The picture above shows Mikey's car, his number 74JR,
with the shadow
of a guitar in the 74. The guitar is in memory of Mikey's big brother,
Jimmy.
Jimmy's love was always music. He not only played several instruments, but taught students at different times in his life. He could play sax, drums, bass
guitar, guitar and harmonica. He started out playing the sax in school and
soon added the guitar. He was in a couple of garage bands in High school and
1 band when he was an adult. They were togehter a long time and their focus
was heavy metal.....not my type, but it was what they liked. When he started
in this band they didn't have a drummer so Jimmy taught himself how to play
and moved from guitar to drums. Although he played in a heavy metal band he
also liked clasical music and Frank Sinatra. Music was his love
and I think
it is fitting that our theme be music if possible.
Jimmy at 10 months old, with his mom.
This locket for Jimmy is a loving gift from
Jay's Mom.
A Day, A week, A Lifetime
When I wake up in the morning, I ask myself?
How will I get through this day without you?
As I dress and prepare to start my day I wonder,
How will I go on without you?
As the day slowly slips away
I remember how you made me laugh,
and I smile without you.
At the end of the day
As I prepare to close my eyes,
I know in my heart
I couldn't have gotten through this day
WITHOUT YOU...
~ Author unknown
 
Jimmy, my precious little boy.
Jimmy eating lunch at a park in Arkansas, when we went to visit
his great-great grandmother, Mama Ceile.
FOREVER
I may be invisible to your sight
But I'm forever here
You may not hear me speak
But I'm forever whispering in your ear
You may not feel my touch
But I'm forever by your side
You may not feel my presence
But I'm forever going to remind you
my soul has NOT died
You may not see my face
But I'm forever smiling at you
You may not know I'm there
But I'm forever watching what you do
I may not breathe the same air
But I'm forever holding you
And though I can not be seen
I'm forever, like my love for you.
~ Author unknown
Jimmy potty training and reading the paper... imitating his grandfather, Pops.
Jimmy talking on the phone.
My sister gave Jimmy "Teddy" right before he turned 2, Teddy went everywhere with him.
Even as an adult, Teddy went where Jimmy went. A wonderful friend just finished restoring
Teddy for me.
This is Jimmy on his birthday with his first bike. My mother and I spent hours running up and down the street
with him until he finally learned to ride it by himself.
These are pictures of Mikey and Stacey's motorcycle. The paint job was partially inspired by Jimmy’s first tattoo and is a dedication to him. Mikey searched for a good picture of Jimmy’s first tattoo for the artist, but was unable to find one clear enough to duplicate exactly. The image on the bike is an awesome likeness of Jimmy’s tattoo and the perfect way to honor his brother! We have all ridden motorcycles over the years including Jimmy and Mikey and Stacey’s tribute to him is so special to all of us. It is a way for us to remember him and share him with the little ones that will never know him…only through our memories will they know how much he was and continues to be missed and loved. Mikey and Stacey’s motorcycle was chosen to be in the World of Wheels Car show the end of this month (February 2009) and we are all looking forward to the show and the time we spend together.
  
   >
On Memory
When you remember me,
it means that you have carried
something of who I am with you,
that I have left some mark
of who I am on who you are.
It means that you can summon me
back to your mind
even though countless years and miles
may stand between us.
It means that if we meet again,
you will know me, and hear my voice
and speak to me in your heart.
For as long as you remember me,
I am never entirely lost.
~Frederick Buechner
Jimmy's second grade school picture.
God Looked around his
garden and he found an empty space.
He then looked
down upon the earth and saw your precious face.
He put
his arms around you and lifted you to rest.
God's
garden must be beautiful.
He always takes the best.
It
broke my heart to lose you,
but you didn't go alone,
for part of me went with you
the day God called you
home.
If Tears could build a staircase
and memories
build a lane
I'd walk all the way to heaven
and bring
you home again.
Jimmy's fifth grade school picture.
This is such a beautiful picture of Jimmy.
Jimmy's seventh grade school picture.
This is Jimmy in high school when he had long beautiful hair.
Tattooed, Deal with It
Different by sight
Laid back & sincere by nature
Brilliant in many ways;
Ask him to make a rue
Or he could provide the whole menu
Not involved with a business coo;
Notes were a breeze
A true musician making music with ease;
Talk about his boys, his bright light
Know he’ll always be in your life;
IQ reaching the sky, he’s not your typical guy
Modern Rules do not apply;
Now that he’s gone, our hearts will forever long
To see & talk to him one more time;
We all loved him a lot
Doubtful to be forgot.
Tattooed, Deal with it.
by Sheri Michelle Custer
Jimmy's step-sister
I haven’t read this poem above in a very long time. It used to hurt just too much. When I read it today, it still broke my heart and brought the tears streaming back…but how perfectly it describes Jimmy. He was such a uniquely intelligent person, but so very quite most of the time. His voice was very soft and he was very laid back. But he could hold an intelligent conversation on almost any subject if you took the time to look past his long hair, tattoos and piercings and just enjoy him. He could be very opinionated and always had data to back up his opinions. He loved music and he is a true musician. I know wherever he is he is still making beautiful music. He loved to cook, just last week a great friend reminded me that ‘he made a mean chicken sandwich’. That is so true! And he loved his boys and family; wherever he is he is watching over us with a big smile. Never to be forgotten….
Jimmy at Christmas in Phoenix visiting my parents.
This is one of Jimmy's wedding pictures.
When Jimmy married we had a memory video put together and I spent a lot of
time chosing a song for him. A song that told my feelings about him, my
special message to him. The song was Forever Young
by Rod Stewart. Now it is
fitting because he will be forever young in my heart.
I'd like that to be
the song.
Jimmy at Christmas 2001.
Jimmy playing guitar for his son, Nicholas.
Nick wrote both of these next two poems for Jimmy’s funeral. Nick had just turned 13 at the time and yet his feelings for his father are so lovingly and beautifully written. He has grown into a wonderful young man that shares his father’s love of music. He is an accomplished musician at the tender age of 18 and working towards a career in the music industry when he finishes school.
Jimmy is so proud; as we are!
Taken
I thought you were gone, I thought you weren’t here.
But one day I was playing a special guitar
and I knew you were near.
Everything seemed clear; it was like you were there.
I just wish I could see your calming stare.
And right then I knew you weren’t taken,
you have always been there.
No one can replace you.
No one can remake you.
No one can even imitate your stare.
So until it is our time to go, see you there.
by Nicholas Paul Poffinbarger
Jimmy's eldest son
This is the last picture taken of Jimmy and his sons, Nicholas and Eric.
I’ll Miss You Dad
You climbed heights no one could reach.
You made music that was hard to teach.
You were one of the best at caring,
But you were also one of the most daring.
You loved a lot of the same things I do,
from cartoons all the way to Motley Crew.
You loved your kids, Eric and Nick.
You would see them when you said, even if you were sick.
You were always the funny guy,
Even when you didn’t try.
Bottom line you weren’t an imitation, you weren’t lame,
But now you are gone and things will never be the same.
by Nicholas Paul Poffinbarger
Jimmy's eldest son
This the last (known) picture of Jimmy. He is with his son, Eric.
This is the picture that is on Jimmy's headstone.
Country Cemetery
In a quiet country cemetery,
Where the gentle breezes blow,
Lies my son I love so dearly;
He died five years ago.
His resting place I visit,
Placing flowers there with care,
But no one knows my heartache,
When I turn to leave them there.
Though his smile is gone forever,
And his hands I cannot touch,
Still I have so many memories
Of the son I love so much.
His memory is my keepsake,
With which I will never part.
God has him in His keeping;
I have him in my heart.
~Author Unknown
 Please also visit Jimmy ~ Forever In My Heart
Dear Jimmy
After reading what your Mom had written about you, I had a few words of my own.
I loved the part of how much you loved Spaghetti O's, and only cheese cake for your Birthday. You really loved your music, the instruments you played,
you taught others, the bands you were in, and I really loved the photo of your baby sitting watching his daddy play guitar. Being a talented cook.
Your brother Mikey had this tattoo of you on his leg, with your photo, and your dates, I thought that was beautiful. One last thing,
your son Nick wrote this beautiful poem about you, that touched me a lot.
TO A MAN FULL OF TALENT
Sue-Anne~~~Lee'sMom
Dearest Kim
The Man you love
You think has gone
He hasn't gone at all
Please put your trust
In GOD
HE will guide you through
It All
Don't think Jimmy as gone
He is just beyond the Crest
We have to believe in our Hearts
GOD only takes the best
MY DEEPEST LOVE KIM AND FAMILY
Sue-Anne~~~Lee'sMom
In Loving Memory of Lee Henry Aguilera
Dear Maria: A small gift for Jimmy's mom and family with my
sympathy and comfort.
Some gifts for the Poffinberger family for your Angel Jimmy.
May God bless and comfort you always.
GEOFFREY P. EDWARDS
 A friend can hear a tear drop.
This webpage is created In Loving Memory of Jimmy Poffinbargeron January 1, 2005
Last updated: March 6, 2009
© 2000 - 2009
Maria's Tribute to Christopher
Andrew... Our Miracle, Our Angel
Below are several gifts to Jimmy from my dear friend Kay, Jason's Mom.
  
Jay's Home Page
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your son Jimmy looked like such a nice boy.
I'm sure he took God's hand and went home with him. May you always feel your precious angel near.
God bless you and bring your heart peace.
IN HONOR OF JIMMY
A PRECIOUS MUSICIAN IN HEAVEN
Music was your greatest love
Your talent given from above
To make music with angels seemed your fate
To welcome new souls coming through heaven's gate
While Gabriel trumpets, and harps and strings play
You'll be making your music one glorious day
As Your loved ones arrive, as this life they depart
What a joyous reunion of heavenly hearts
With My Love and Prayers For You
And A Heart That Shares Your Pain and Sorrow
Ann,
Laurasmom
 
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A friend can hear a tear drop. 
