James Wallace Cheatham
February 6, 1937 ~ September 8, 2026
Born in:
Magnolia, Arkansas
Resided in:
Bells, Texas
“Coach”
He was born February 6, 1937, in Magnolia, Arkansas, son of M.W. Cheatham and Bertha Baker Cheatham. He graduated from Village High School, Village, Arkansas, as salutatorian of his class in 1955. He won all-district honors in basketball and baseball and won first place in the state of Arkansas in the Pole Vault his Senior year. He attended Southern Arkansas University on an athletic scholarship, participating in basketball and baseball. He received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1959 with a major in Physical Education and a minor in Mathematics. He received a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1965.
He was ordained as a Deacon in Bethlehem Baptist Church, Magnolia, Arkansas in 1960 and taught an adult Sunday school class. He joined Calvary Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Bells, Texas in 1967 and served as a Deacon and adult Sunday school teacher.
He married Margie Faye Vines on June 1, 1963, in Bodcaw, Arkansas. They had two daughters Donna (1964) and Diane (1967) and one son David (1972).
He began his coaching and teaching career in 1959 as head basketball and baseball coach at Village High School, then at Bodcaw and Bright Star Schools. He became a High School Principal in 1963 and was Superintendent of Schools at Bodcaw High School from 1965–1967.
He moved to Bells, Texas in 1967 and was employed by Bells ISD as a coach and Mathematics teacher for 27 years. At different times, he was head high school coach in basketball, baseball, and tennis, as well as assistant high school football coach. In 1989, as coach of Bells Junior High football team, he received local, state, and national media attention from ESPN by completing a 58-game unbeaten streak which covered more than 7 complete seasons. He set a great example for thousands he taught and coached and was known as the Tom Landry of Bells. He was inducted into the Bells ISD Panther Hall of Honor as a charter member on October 14, 2011.
After retiring from Bells ISD in 1994, he began pitching slow-pitch softball in Denison and Sherman. He began bowling in 1994 and was a member of Grayson County and Bryan County Bowling Associations. A consistent 190s average bowler, he ended the 2000 summer league with a 200 average. He won first place in the Grayson County Bowling Association Singles Tournament in 2000 with a three-game total of 782 pins. He bowled a 298 game on July 20, 2009, and a 300 game on January 30, 2012, becoming the oldest person in the local association to bowl a 300 game.
He went home to be with the Lord on September 8, 2026, while surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by daughters Donna Haas and husband Cyrus of Ector, Texas, and Diane Allen of Sherman, Texas; son David Cheatham of Denison, Texas; grandchildren J.D. Kingrey of Bells, Texas; Christine Kingrey of Sherman, Texas; Angela Stone and husband Jordan of Sherman, Texas; Andrew Haas and wife Ciara of Boerne, Texas; Shelby Cheatham of Denison, Texas; Jalen Allen of Sherman, Texas; Macey Cheatham of Denison, Texas; great-grandchildren Adrian Ramirez of Sherman, Texas and Alexa Kingrey of Sherman, Texas; brother Neil Cheatham and wife Linda of Magnolia, Arkansas; sister Dorothy Brumley and husband Jim of Hot Springs, Arkansas; numerous nieces and nephews; and his first great-great-grandchild expected in February 2027. He was preceded in death by parents Minor and Bertha Cheatham, brother Dewey Cheatham, and sisters Sue Ellis and Peggy Howell, and great-grandsons Erik DeLeon and Gideon Haas.
Visitation will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, with the Celebration of Life at 3:30 PM at Bells High School Gym. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Services
Visitation: Sunday, September 13, 2026 2:00 pm
Funeral Service: Sunday, September 13, 2026 3:30 pm
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To all of Wallace’s family, my deepest condolences on such a loss for you all. I was the coordinator of the Sherman Senior Center for years and we had a group of seniors who met at the Sherman bowling alley on FM 1417 and bowled once a week for fun, no leagues. Wallace joined us and was always a great bowler and wonderful addition to our fun-loving group. It was indeed a privilege for me to get to know him and bowl with him. Great man and a true gentleman! Prayers for you all.