Jesse James Dukes, 11, of Porterdale, died July 8. He attended Middle Ridge Elementary School and played football for the Newton County Recreation Department Bulldogs in the 2006 season. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, riding dirt bikes and four wheelers and playing X-Box. Jesse was a compassionate person who never met a stranger. He was full of life and will be dearly missed by all.

Surviving are mother Cathy H. Dukes; sister and brother-in-law Crystal and Brantley Steger; grandmother Dolly Hayes; great-grandmother Corrine Parker; aunts and uncles Bobby and Susan Wilbanks, David and Sandra Hayes, Dorothy Brooks, James Hayes; several cousins.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, July 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 12, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Caldwell & Cowan with the Rev. Darrell Payne and the Rev. Joe Kirbo officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens.