Obituary of Bond Judge J.O.

Judge James O. Bond was born the youngest of eight children on December 24, 1938, in Rural Wilson County, Tennessee. He completed his primary education at the Major School two room school house and his secondary education at Lebanon High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in both Lincoln, Nebraska, and Okinawa, Japan. He then went on to graduate from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Administration and Economics. It was at MTSU where he met and married his wife of 44 years Jo Ann Hughes Bond. He spent his early career as a claims adjuster for State Farm. Following the birth of his first son, James O. Bond Jr., he enrolled in night classes at the YMCA Nashville School of Law. He did this while maintaining his full time employment with State Farm. After passing the Bar Exam, he returned home to Lebanon where he began practicing law with the firm later known as Agee, Bond, and Hunt, and his sons Joshua Jay and Joseph Roy were born. Following his life long dream of public service, he was elected in 1990 as the Criminal Court Judge for the 15th Judicial District. He quickly became known by members of the bar, as well as the defendants they represented, as a "no nonsense, strict disciplinarian" Judge. While well known for his judicial accomplishments, Judge Bond was most proud of his groundbreaking implementation of drug court which allowed first time, non-violent drug offenders to have a chance to redeem themselves through a highly successful alternative sentencing program that benefitted both the taxpayers and the offenders with a chance at rehabilitation. While he had numerous accomplishments in the Court Room, he was an even better Husband, Father and Grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Susie Anna Bond and siblings Minnie Bond Hopkins, Mildred Bond, and Floyd Bond. He is survived by his wife Jo Ann, sons Jim, Josh, and Joe and grandchildren Jackson, Lauren, Sammy, and Thatcher Bond. The family will be accepting friends at Sellars Funeral Home in Lebanon on Friday, January 2, 2009 from 4-8 p.m. Services, conducted by Brother Kevin Medlin and Brother Don Acton, are 1 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009 at Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He will lie in state at the church from noon until service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to: 15th Judicial Drug Task Force (P.O. Box 307 Hartsville, TN 37074), Humane Society of Wilson County (P. O. Box 247 Lebanon, TN 37088), The Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church Building Fund (522 Castle Heights Ave. Lebanon, TN 37087).