James E. Higginbotham , 77, of Center, passed away Friday, January 3, 2020, in Center.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 6, 2020, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to service.

Mr. Higginbotham was born March 24, 1942, in Gilmer, Texas, to Henry Woodrow Higginbotham and Avalene Mauk Higginbotham.  He worked for Houston Lighting and Power for forty-two years and later became the minister at Center Church of the Nazarene in Center.  His hobbies included hunting, fishing, and visiting his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine Higginbotham of Center; son, Chris Higginbotham and wife Ana of Alvin; daughter-in-law, Karen Higginbotham of Houston; seven grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Letts of Houston, Mary Higginbotham of Houston, Dorothy Cisneros of Houston, and Alice Clark of Houston; sister-in-law, Kathy Higginbotham of Quitman; brother-in-law, Stan Ballard of Mont Belvieu; and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Woodrow Higginbotham and Avalene Mauk Higginbotham; son, Keith Higginbotham; and brother, Glen Ray Higginbotham.