McMinnville resident and Florence, AL native Bryson Lemoine James, Ph.D., age 86, was born September 12, 1930 and died April 29, 2017 at St. Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta, TN following an extended illness. Dr. James was a former Professor of Horticulture at the University of North Carolina, former Director of Horticultural Research at the University of Florida and after moving to McMinnville, he became a Consulting Horticulturist with the nursery industry and many other clients. He volunteered as Director of Horticultural Research for the Southern Nursery Association and directed it's Annual Research Conference for thirty-seven years. He was the son of the late Edward Newman and Ira Belle Denton James, a member of Christ Family Church and veteran of the United States Air Force. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Anna Marie James and brother, Edward Ira James. Dr. James was married July 6, 1991 to Frances Pedigo James of McMinnville. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Edward Michael (Miriam) James of Gettysburg, PA; three step-daughters, Deborah (Ernest) Frankenberg and Cynthia Preston both of McMinnville and Gerlinde (Collier) Rogers of Rock Island, TN; step-grandson, Michael (Talitha) Oettinger, Jr. of Murfreesboro, TN; two step-great-grandchildren, Lucy and Berean Oettinger; three brothers, Dr. Jesse Clopton (Barbara) James of Huntsville, AL, Malcolm Wallace (Jean) James of Byron, GA and Graham Farris (Clara) James of Cypress Inn, TN; sister, Vera James Holt of St. Louis, MO; sister-in-law, Pauline James; Byron, GA and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2017 in High's Chapel with Charlie Parkerson, Danny Summers and Christopher Young officiating. Burial will follow in the Gardens of Memory Cemetery with full military honors administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday and 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at High's. Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.