Obituary of James Kenneth Trent

James Kenneth Trent, 90, of Kingsport, passed away on July 11, 2023. Born on April 30, 1933 in Eidson, TN, James was the son of the late Della Trent Stafford and G.W. Trent.

Family meant the world to James. He was married to Eunice Moore Trent for 65 years and was a loving father to Rhonda Trent Grimes and her husband Marcus of Asheville, N.C., and Mark and his wife Lisa of Kingsport. James took great pride in being a grandfather to Chad Trent and his wife Boyoung of Montclair, New Jersey; Sarah Trent Benton and her husband Drew of Burlington, North Carolina; and Hannah Grimes of Plantation, Florida. He also had two adored great-grandchildren, Maggie Benton and Anais Trent. James is survived by his beloved brothers, G.W. Trent Jr. of Bulls Gap, Larry Trent of Knoxville, and sister Grace Miller of Rogersville. He was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Johnson of Church Hill.

James' grandchildren cherish the memories of their time with Papaw. Whether it was sharing sweet tea and fresh watermelon on the carport in the summer, eagerly watching for the bobber to dip at their favorite fishing spot, or cracking hickory nuts with a hammer in the driveway, Papaw loved each and every moment with them. He was always there to support them through the ups and downs of life, providing guidance from his own experiences. Papaw enjoyed sharing stories of his childhood, often taking them to places close to his heart, like Clinch Mountain, where they created lasting memories of simpler times.

A graveside service for family and friends to honor James’s life will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 1:00 pm with Rev. Todd Haley, of Oak Grove Baptist Church officiating. All those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery by 12:45 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in James' memory to Second Harvest Food Bank, 1020 Jericho Drive, Kingsport, Tennessee 37663.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home in downtown Kingsport is proudly serving the Trent family.