Jimmy's Page

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!

Happy 41st birthday Jimmy.

Dear Jimmy,
Here we are again… on this day that should be a happy celebration, but still brings me to tears. It is your birthday!

As I am looking through pictures to add, I see that beautiful little boy you used to be looking back at me with his long hair and long eyelashes and I can’t keep from crying and wondering what happened to that sweet innocent little guy? I am so sorry that I wasn’t a better mom for that little boy and that he had to grow up so fast and that I allowed his little heart to get broken. I should have been there for you more and protected you more from life’s heart breaks. There are always regrets… but I am so thankful that Ollie and Pops were there for you and helped you when I couldn’t, just like I know they are with you now when I am not.

Nothing much has changed except that I don’t spend as much time dwelling on the past as I did before (except around your birthday and anniversary). I still worry about you and think about what happened. I wonder still if you were afraid after the accident through the time you died. I know you were in pain. I think about why it happened the way it did and why it had to happen at all. I wonder what life would be like now if you were still here with us. But mostly I just miss you.

It just hit me that this is your 9th birthday in heaven… such a very long time when you are missing someone as much as I miss you. There are still times when I don’t think I can get out of bed, but I do. Life can be really, really hard sometimes.

What a year this has been… Eric turned 18 and Nick turned 21 this year; major milestones for both of them. Eric had a great year on the varsity basketball team and will be graduating from high school and going off to college in a few months. Nick just started a new job and Conrad is growing up so fast. Mikey and Stacey’s motorcycle won 2nd at World of Wheels this year. A lot has been updated on it but it still has the paint with you on the back of the bags and he still tells your story to anyone who stops and listens. Your brother loves to talk! Tyler is into sports (basketball, football and baseball) and Bryce is in Tai-kwon-do.

Ruby and I were shopping at Hobby Lobby the other day and we bought you and Grandpa Evans a garden spinner thing for the cemetery and took them by. She always talks to you (like I do) when we go there and says ‘I love you Jimmy’ when we leave. She is my little angel here on earth.

We all miss you Jimmy. You are forever in our hearts.
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY ANGEL!
Love always,
Mom

My Mom is a Survivor

My mom is a survivor,
or so I've heard it said.
But I can hear her crying
when all others are in bed.
I watch her lay awake at night.
and go to hold her hand.
She doesn't know I'm with her
to help her understand.
But like the sands upon a beach
that never wash away...
I watch over my surviving mom
who thinks of me each day.
She wears a smile for others,
a smile of disguise.
But through Heaven's open door,
I see tears flowing from her eyes.
My mom tries to cope with my death,
to keep my memory alive.
But anyone who knows her
knows it's her way to survive.
As I watch over my surviving mom
through Heaven's open door...
I try to tell her
that Angels protect me forevermore.
I know that doesn't help her,
or ease the burdens she bears.
So if you get a chance, call to her
And show her that you care.
For no matter what she feels,
my surviving mom has a broken heart
that time won't ever heal.
~K. D'Ormeaux

I miss you so much Jimmy, we all do. As our lives continue down different paths now we all think about you often and remember you and how you enriched our lives … I love you!

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.

They Say There is a Reason

They say there is a reason,
They say that time will heal,
But neither time nor reason,
Will change the way I feel,
For no-one knows the heartache,
That lies behind our smiles,
No-one knows how many times,
We have broken down and cried,
We want to tell you something,
So there won't be any doubt,
You're so wonderful to think of,
But so hard to be without.
~ Author Unknown

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 eight and half years ago, but neither bloomed for the next four and a half years. Finally Mikey's peace lily came to life and had two beautiful blooms as in the picture and has continued to grow and bloom every year and remind of us of Jimmy. 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. Unfortunately my plant is not doing as well, the past year it has started dying out and is very small and delicate. I am trying everything I know to keep it alive. The thought of losing it too breaks my heart…

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.

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.

Tiny Angels

Tiny Angels rest your wings,
Sit with me for awhile.
How I long to hold your hand
And see your tender smile.
Tiny Angel, look at me,
I want this image clear....
That I will forget your precious face
Is my biggest fear.
Tiny Angel can you tell me,
Why you have gone away?
You weren't here for very long....
Why is it, you couldn't stay?
Tiny Angel shook his head,
"These things I do not know....
But I do know that you love me,
And that I love you so".
~ Author Unknown

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 in 2009 and 2010 where it won first place both years! All kinds of people stop to look at it and take pictures and your brother talks to anyone willing to listen; he tells them about his brother, Jimmy. He tells about your life and your death and how you helped inspire the paint job on his bike. He is very proud of his bike and he is proud of his brother’s part in it.

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 seven 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

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

To view the entries in Jimmy's old guestbook,
please click on the image below ~