James "Jim" Woodrow Pulliam, 88, of Eden passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem.

A graveside service and visitation will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 11:00 am at Ridge-View Memorial Gardens in Eden.

Jim was born in Eden on August 29, 1931 a son of Ed Lee Pulliam and Elizabeth Odell Pulliam, both deceased. He had a progressive career in the Furniture business which began at  Home Novelty in Eden. His career later took him to LaChap in Welcome, NC and then West Box Lumber Company in Fayetteville, where he served as Superintendent of Finishing. After moving back to Eden, he later started his own business, Jim's Paint and Body Shop which later became Jim's Auto Sales.

Jim began playing music at a very early age. Self-taught, he could play any instrument that had strings. He first began playing for a radio station at age 5 along with his 10 year old brother, Coy. In Jim's younger years he was best known for playing the mandolin and then later the lead guitar. The two would play locally at different events, church and on the radio. They even shared a regular hour slot on the local radio station with their band. The first half hour of the show would be Coy and the Carolina Playboys, while the last half would be Smiling Jim and the Troubadours. As Jim grew up he played in several bands locally and then later in Welcome and Fayetteville as well. His most well-known band in Fayetteville was Gill Mack and the Knight Raiders, for which he played lead guitar most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Upon moving back to Eden, Jim joined his brother, Coy in Coy and the Gospel Strings playing locally at churches and nursing homes and was a regular at Buddy's auction for a long time. A few years after Coy's passing, Jim formed "Jim and the Gospel Strings". Jim also performed as a solo act at local churches, nursing homes, and talent shows.

Jim is survived by his sons, David Pulliam and wife, Melinda of Fayetteville, NC, Jimmy Pulliam and wife, Marilou of Jacksonville, FL. and Tim Pulliam of Eden; his daughters, Rhonda Laster and husband, Don of Eden and Gina Pulliam of Eden; his grandchildren, David Pulliam, Chad Pulliam and fiancé Theresa, Jamie Flint and wife, Amanda, Kevin Flint and wife, Anna, Kelly Woodell and husband, Richie, Chris Pulliam, Jeff Pulliam and Ellen, Shaun Pulliam and Donna, Blake Pulliam, Cory Clifton and Jacob Clifton; great grandchildren, Amanda Pulliam, Anna Pulliam, Nicole Flint, Katie Flint, Cecilia Flint, Branson Flint, Emily Flint, Kimberly Bardn, Robert Baker, Carmen Woodell, Dylan Pulliam, Nate Pulliam, Andrew Pulliam, Katie Barclay, Sheyenne Pulliam and Loralye Pulliam and one great- great grandchild, Jackson.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Temple Denny Pulliam and his brother, Coy Pulliam.

The family will receive friends at the home of Rhonda and Don Laster.

Boone and Cooke Funeral Home is serving the Pulliam Family.