James Hightower, Jr.

James E. Hightower, Jr., age 71 of Diamondhead, MS, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2021.

Mr. Hightower was preceded in death by his father, James Hightower, Sr. of Stockton, CA; and his mother, Betty Wade Hightower of New Orleans, LA.

Jim is survived by his wife, Susan Niemann Hightower; his children, Evan (17) and Maya “Milo” (14) Hightower of Diamondhead, MS, Brent (Jody) and Lauren and their mother, Cathy Hightower of New Orleans, LA; stepsons, Eric Niemann of Diamondhead and Andrew (Amanda) Niemann of New Orleans, LA; and his grandsons, Josef Hightower-Hinnawi, Nathaniel Hightower and Reid Hightower of New Orleans, LA.

A native of Fort Valley, GA, Jim earned his M. Divinity from Earlham School of Religion and his Ed.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  He was an ordained UCC Minister and served as Interim Pastor of Long Beach Presbyterian Church for six years.

A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Jim shared a practice with his wife Susan at Coastal Family Counseling in Diamondhead.

Among his many achievements as a pastoral counselor, educator, writer, and lecturer, Jim authored 16 books and many articles for publication.  Jim Hightower was honored as 2009 Distinguished Supervisor by LA Association of Counselor Educator Supervision.

His life was dedicated to community service.  Jim served on many boards including United Way, American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and The Mental Health Association of Greater New Orleans.  This year, Jim ran as the first Democratic candidate for Diamondhead City Council At Large.  He was vice president of Diamondhead DPIA.  He and his wife, Susan, were active in the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse In Bay St Louis

Jim Hightower was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.  He touched the lives of so many throughout his career.  He strived to connect with the best in all he met and to evoke the highest good in everything he did.  Jim’s favorite scripture passage was on servant leadership.  Philippians 2:1-8 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, being in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking that very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.”

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Friday, September 10, 2021, at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 9113 Kiln DeLisle Road, Pass Christian, MS.  Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1333 South Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the James Hightower Community Memorial Fund c/o Melissa Reed Graves, 7832 Loa Place, Diamondhead, MS 39525.