JACKSON, Miss. – Reformed Theological Seminary announces with heavy hearts the passing of Mr. James “Jim” Moore, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who died Saturday, August 2, 2025. Moore served RTS with distinction for over three decades, including 11 years as board chairman from 2000 to 2011, helping guide the seminary through significant challenges and extraordinary growth.
Moore joined the RTS Board of Trustees and Executive Committee in 1980 after serving as a trainee member beginning in 1976. His 45-year relationship with the seminary spanned nearly its entire history, making him one of the institution’s most dedicated and influential leaders.
“Jim Moore embodied the very best of Christian leadership—integrity, faithfulness, and an unwavering commitment to God’s Word,” said Dr. Ligon Duncan, Chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary. “His steady hand guided RTS through some of our most challenging years, and his vision helped position us for the global ministry we conduct today. Jim understood that theological education impacts every believer, whether directly or indirectly, and he stewarded that responsibility with remarkable faithfulness.”
During Moore’s tenure as chairman, RTS faced significant financial challenges during the late 2000s economic recession while simultaneously pursuing opportunities for expansion and growth. His business background as a former vice president of communications at one of Mississippi’s largest utility companies proved invaluable during these critical years.
“Jim was not just a board member—he was a true partner in ministry,” said Mr. Richard Ridgway, current Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “His deep knowledge of RTS history, his commitment to our Reformed distinctives, and his heart for the expansion of God’s Kingdom made him an exceptional leader. Jim and his beloved wife Betty were constant encouragers to all of us, and his influence on this institution will be felt for generations to come.”
Moore’s commitment to RTS extended far beyond formal board meetings. He was known for his dedication to educating new trustees about the seminary’s history and mission, often saying that newcomers needed to understand what the institution “had been through and what lessons we had learned—sometimes the hard way.”
A ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi, Moore believed deeply in what he called “the multiplying effect”—the expansion of God’s Kingdom through RTS graduates serving as pastors, counselors, missionaries, and educators worldwide. He often reflected on the seminary’s early years when trustees “were living hand-to-mouth” and “totally dependent” on God’s provision.
“We prayed an awful lot in the early years,” Moore once recalled. “But we were convinced that if we were doing the Lord’s will, he would get us through. And that turned out to be the case.”
Moore is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty, and his older brother Al Moore. He leaves behind three sons: James Love “Jimmy” Moore, Jr. and his wife, Finney Cossar Moore; William McNeill “Bill” Moore and his wife, Leigh Anne Sherrod Moore; and Cooper Bufkin Moore and his wife, Leigh McGehee Moore.
His grandchildren include Sanford Moore and his wife, Hannah, and their children James Love Moore III and David Farris Moore; Thompson Moore and his wife, Kendall; Harrison Moore; Luci Moore; William Moore; John Moore and his wife, Laura Lee and their son, Henry McNeill Moore; Elizabeth Moore Johnson and her husband, William; Thomas Moore, Sarah Grace Moore, Eloise Moore, and Cooper Moore.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 8, at 10 a.m. in Miller Hall at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi, followed by a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Parking will be available in the Pinehurst Street parking lot.
A live video stream of the service at First Presbyterian Church will be offered via their website at: fpcjackson.org/livestream.