James Daniel Pruett of Gadsden, AL died October 17, 2024. He was 86 years old. He is survived by his family, the anchor and joy of his life: Alice Berrey Pruett, his beloved wife of 65 years, with whom he made a warm and loving home for their family and friends; Mary Elizabeth (Molly) Pruett Henry, Sara Ruth Pruett Arey, and Anne Leone Pruett, his three daughters; Jessie Rose Henry, Dylan James Henry, Briannen Kay Arey, Maylen Anne Jiao Arey, and Eli Pierce Pruett, his grandchildren; Leone Pruett Norris, his sister; Howell Vann Pruett, his brother, and his wife Rebecca Pruett; Norman P. Arey and Donald H. Henry, his sons-in-law; Melissa L. Norris, his niece; and, Michael D. Pruett, Gregory H. Pruett, Luke P. Norris, Samuel G, Norris, III, and J. Daniel Norris, his nephews, their spouses and their children, his grandnieces and grandnephews. All were especially close to his heart. He also leaves behind Sherry Bright McCary, the much loved and trusted helper, colleague, and companion of his professional life for fifty years. Of his many firm and valued friends, none was closer or more faithful than she.
Mr. Pruett was preceded in death by his parents, James Howell Pruett and Sara Elizabeth Daniel Pruett, by his brother-in-law, Samuel G, Norris, Jr., and by his granddaughter, Margaret Alice Arey.
Except for years away during his schooling and military service, Mr. Pruett lived his whole life in Gadsden. He was the fourth generation of his family to live and work within a twenty-mile radius of Whitesville and Boaz, the home of his paternal grandparents.
He was educated in the public schools of Gadsden — Striplin Elementary, Disque Junior High, and Gadsden High School where he was a proud member of the class of 1956. He then went for further education to Harvard College where he was a member of Kirkland House and the Harvard Class of 1960 for 2 years, and the University of Alabama, receiving his A.B. in 1960, and Alabama’s School of Law, receiving his LL.B. in 1963.
Commissioned in the Army of the United States as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry, in May 1960, Mr. Pruett served on active duty and in the reserves from then until he was mustered out in 1968 as a Captain, JAGC. For his active-duty service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
Upon his relief from active duty in 1966, he began his practice of law in Gadsden. He continued, with one interruption (to serve from 1986 through 1995 as Associate General Counsel and, subsequently, as Acting General Counsel of AmSouth Bank at its headquarters in Birmingham) until he retired, finally, in February 2011. During his years of active practice, he concentrated mainly on civil litigation and represented a number of businesses and individuals in the area.
He was a Life Member of both the American Law Institute and the Alabama Law Institute and served on a number of boards and commissions of the Alabama and Etowah County bar associations. He was a member of the bars of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Alabama, and the lower courts. For eighteen years he was a member (sometime chairman) of the Alabama Securities Commission, the longest serving member in its history.
In earlier years, he enjoyed playing tennis and shooting skeet with his friends and sailing with them and his family at Lake Guntersville. For over thirty years he enjoyed the fellowship of a group of friends who met monthly at the Gadsden Country Club for supper and discussions of selected topics.
Reared in the First United Methodist Church of Gadsden, he remained a member there until 1980, when he became a parishioner of the Church of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal) in Gadsden. He was a member of that parish when he died, held various positions in the church, and was, for some years, a Sunday School teacher.
Services were held at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Gadsden on November 2, 2024. Donations, in James’ memory, can be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation or a charity of your choice.
