James "Jimmy" William Pearson, Jr.

James "Jimmy" William Pearson, Jr., 41, of Gastonia, met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face Saturday, September 11, 2021.  He is now experiencing first hand what he has talked about most of his life.  Just two days after Jimmy met Jesus face to face, on September 13, his wife Rachel Pavelek Pearson, passed away and joined him at Heaven's gates.  Jimmy was a wealth of knowledge about the Lord, and lived what he preached.  To know him was to love him.  He was an active member of Flint Groves Baptist Church.  Jimmy was born in Gaston County to Cynthia "Cyndi" Summitt Ennis and the late James William Pearson, Sr.  In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Rusty Ennis; his paternal grandmother, Geraldine Hall; and paternal step grandmother, Brenda Pearson.  In addition to Jimmy's mother Cyndi, those left to cherish his memory include his step bonus mom, Lori Pearson; his siblings, Melanie Addis and her husband Joe, Vienna Hays, and Katie Crofts and her husband Wes; his maternal grandparents, Bill and Betty Summitt; his paternal grandfather, Lemuel Pearson; and his bonus grandmother, Sarah Hendricks; his niece and nephew Kendall and Cooper Addis; and his mother and father-in-law Elma and Machan Pavelek.  A service to celebrate Jimmy's life, along with his wife Rachel, will be held Friday, September 17, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Flint Groves Baptist Church, 2017 E. Ozark Avenue in Gastonia.  Interment will follow the service at Westview Gardens Cemetery in Bessemer City.  The family will greet guests from 12:00 until 2:00, prior to the funeral hour, also at the church. In lieu of flowers ,memorials may be made to Flint Groves Baptist Church in their honor.  Arrangements are in the care of Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mount Holly.  Online condolences may be left at www.woodlawnfuneral.org.