James Albert Eaton

James Albert Eaton was born at Hillman Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama on March 2, 1948 to the late Pauline Eaton. He attended W.C. Davis School in Birmingham, Alabama.

James was an only child, he was affectionately known as "Bama", "Alabama", and "Bunny". He left Alabama in 1967 with his aunt and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He gained employment, first driving 18 wheeler trucks, and then became a cement truck driver with teamsters 436. He later retired from Osborne Inc.

Bama was a giving person and never met a stranger. He loved dirty blues, driving through the Hough community, and playing softball at Thurgood Marshall Rec Center his team was the Bulls. He looked forward to traveling in the summer with the local softball team. Bama was a jokester, and if "no filter" had a face he was it.

Bama loved spending time with his granddaughter and he especially enjoyed riding the baby "Sasha "around with him. Bama was the neighborhood jitney and always made sure anyone who needed a ride had one. You could most often find him sitting at Smitty's barbershop scratching his lottery tickets and reading the paper, and he also enjoyed himself at Jack's casino.

On April 11, 2022 a truly amazing person received his wings and will be missed by everyone he touched. Bama leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Curlie Lavon Tillman; two daughters, Renata Jana Tillman, and Belon Dwan Tillman; one son, Devante Jerome Avery; two granddaughters, Jamia Lanae Tillman, and Sasha Lynae Green; as well as a host of nieces, aunts, uncles, nephews, other family and friends.