After the heyday of “Jim and Shirley”, as they were known all over, Shirley’s health started declining rapidly. This made Jim rethink their busy schedule on the road for weeks at a time, so they could stay home more and tend to her needs. She took care of things at their house including the business side of their ministry, and Jim became Carlisle First Church of God’s lead pastor. This new chapter in their ministry proved to be just what they needed at this point in their lives, because Warren and Betty started attending and dad would sing with Jim and Shirley like they did in the beginning.

I was so thrilled to have mom and dad in church with me again. It felt like old times! Dad would play guitar while I played piano, and sometimes he would lead congregational singing.

Jim and Shirley was able to still keep their local dates, in addition to keeping their church going. It thrived for a few years, but it started declining due to the older members’ failing health. With attendance steadily declining, it wasn’t able to keep up with expenses, so the church eventually closed its doors.

Christmas In The Smokies was Jim and Shirley’s favorite event of the year, really more Shirley’s than Jim’s. She always loved the Christmas season and the opportunity to see her fellow artists on their record label. This was not the only event they attended on an annual basis. There were different Praise gatherings and worship events in their area they attended, which resembled many Gaither Reunions. They always put Jim and Shirley up front in recognition of their contribution to regional and national Gospel Music.

Shirley’s Last Years

Shirley’s illness progressed to the point she couldn’t travel anywhere to sing, but she insisted on going to Christmas In The Smokies one last time. This was in December, 2015. Jim drove her to Pigeon Forge and did everything in his power to make her trip as smooth as possible. He tirelessly transported her to all the concerts and all the places she loved to see while in Pigeon Forge, which she thoroughly enjoyed. They both knew this was likely her last time to attend, so they made it as memorable as possible.

Shirley held on to get back home and live out her last days with Jim, still eager to help out with their ministry as much as she could. She succumbed to her illness on January 25, 2016, and was laid to rest on January 29.

A New Beginning

Jim was completely lost after Shirley passed and although he attempted to sing solo, he just couldn’t without his beloved wife standing next to him. Jim met and married Barbara Holley on December 18, 2016 and found love again. He also found his way back to God and felt the call to pastor again. He accepted the senior pastoral position at Erlanger First Church of God in Erlanger, KY for just a year, although he still couldn’t bring himself to sing publicly.

After his tenure there, he was invited to sing at Poasttown First Church of God at their Southern Gospel Gathering in 2019. He actually got up and sang a few songs without backing out over the thoughts of singing alone. He did so well that the pastor of Poasttown offered him the job of worship leader, which Jim eagerly accepted.

At Poasttown, Jim reconnected with his high school pal, Tina Kash Lawson and asked her to sing a few songs with him, not just on the praise team, but to sing out at different churches and events. God spoke to Jim and said now is the time to get back out there and carry My word in song or forever be silent. Jim couldn’t disobey God, so in February 2021, he founded a new ministry called PROFITT.

Jim and Tina put together a list of their favorite songs and recorded “Continuing The Journey” in July 2021 at Chapel Valley Studio, which received critical acclaim. They decided right then they needed to begin work on their second CD, so Jim called his long-time friend, Bryan Glenn, to do a photo shoot for them on March 19, 2022. The next day on Sunday the 20th, PROFITT sang at Tender Mercies Ministries in Middletown, pastored by Larry Hayes, Shirley’s cousin.

They asked Bryan to come up and sing a few songs with them and it was such a perfect fit, Jim asked Bryan to come on board and join PROFITT. He also gave Bryan an assignment: learn 13 songs for their upcoming CD in April 2022. Even though Bryan lived in Fort Mill, SC, he made the long trip every weekend to Middletown to sing with PROFITT.

Once word spread that PROFITT was a trio with live music, their popularity grew and was soon in great demand.

PROFITT even traveled internationally on SonShine Promotions Gospel Cruise every year, which was an awesome vacation each time.

PROFITT recorded their third CD in October 2023 titled “Chiseled In Stone”. By this time, Jim, Tina and Bryan had perfected their harmonies and knew just what the other was going to sing even before they sung it. They were blessed with all new sound gear and learned all the nuances of how to fine tune the mix, with Tina’s husband Russ Lawson running FOH (front of house) mix.

Jim’s Departure

2025 brought even more changes to Jim’s ministry and health. He was in and out of the hospital for various illnesses, but in August of that year, he finally got a diagnosis after a run of various tests. He has a rare form of leukemia that has been attacking his red blood cells (hemoglobin), which explains why he’s been anemic all his life. This rare form is treatable with low doses of a specially formulated chemo, which he will be on for the rest of his life. The great news is, he is now doing much better and his hemoglobin is approaching normal levels for the first time in his life!

Because of his health, Jim asked Tina and Bryan to find someone else who could sing in his place. On the 2025 cruise, Tina heard Bryan’s wife Priscilla singing along with every group who was on stage during the nightly concerts, and couldn’t believe she knew how to sing harmony. It wasn’t long before they tried her out singing Jim’s part, at least the parts that weren’t so low she couldn’t hit them.

As Jim got stronger and started feeling better, he felt like God wasn’t finished with him yet. He prayed for guidance, and God led him toward venturing out as a solo artist. He has done two dates on his own so far, and God moved in both services.

As you can see, Jim’s legacy and ministry is still continuing. As long as there’s breath in his lungs, Jim will praise the Lord!