James Perry Bullock

James Perry “Jim” Bullock, age 88, of Beale Street in Cumberland, Kentucky, passed from this life on Friday, December 1, 2017, at the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on August 1, 1929, unto the union of Auda Cecil and Lona Maggard Bullock.  He was a lifelong member of the Central Baptist Church in Cumberland, KY.

Jim, as most called him, was a man that learned from an early age that if you wanted something, you had to work at it.  He enlisted in the Navy and became a medic during the Korean War stationed aboard the U.S.S. Yellowstone.  Later in life, he tried his hand at coal mining, after six short days, he decided it wasn’t for him and focused on becoming a businessman.  

He worked for John L. Creech, in East Cumberland, as a carry out grocer.  He also ran the Rolling Store, which was a grocery store on wheels that delivered groceries and other necessities to people’s homes.

Jim was the owner of the Benham Commissary Building, which he sold to the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce for the formation of the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum.  

In 1959, He opened a grocery store that later evolved into an arts and crafts store and finally settling as a hardware store.  He was proud to have been the oldest proprietor and having operated, Bullock Hardware at 209 Beale Street for over forty-five years.

Jim was married to his wife, Alberta for 62 years.   He was a man that believed in giving to his community.  He was instrumental in the development of the Kingdom Come State Park, which is why one of the overlooks is named after him, “Bullock Overlook”.  He was never a school taught business man, he just had a knack for business.  

Anytime, you entered Bullock Hardware, you might not have seen Jim, but you could always hear him humming.   He had many intuitive, sayings like, “The Sun always shines on Saturday” and “This to shall pass, you may not like the way it will go but it will pass”.   He was full of wisdom and didn’t care to share with others, as he done things for people and no one ever knew because he wasn’t a boastful man.  

The community has lost a part of itself with the passing of Mr. Bullock.  He was a dedicated man of God, dedicated to his country and dedicated to his family.  

He is preceded in death by his son, James Perry Bullock, III, daughter, Martha Allison Bullock, brothers, Harold and Hayward Bullock, sister, Christine Bullock Day.

He leaves to mourn his passing, wife, Alberta Bullock of Cumberland, KY, daughter, Gwen Blair and son, Donald Wayne Bullock, sister, Joyce Ann Bullock Boring, grandchildren, Morgan Bullock, Olivia Bullock, Tyler Vince-Edward Blair, Wayne Bullock, and Elizabeth Bullock Coots, great grandchildren, Lance and Bradley Coots.

Pallbearers will be Tyler Blair, Wayne Bullock, Donald Bullock, Joel Day, Logan Maggard, Rick Bullock and Ronnie Vanover.

Honorary Pallbearers:   Pop Barger, James “Pete” Wells, Danny Miller, John Roark, Elhonan Pennington, Harold Boring, Claude Johnson, Tim Bullock, Christopher Creech and Benjamin Boring.

In lieu of flowers, please make all donations to Club 180 in Cumberland, KY.

 Service Information