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Lt. James L Widener
September 12, 1954 - October 29, 2026
A visitation and receiving of friends will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm with a funeral service immediately following at Memorial Funeral Home in Maryville, Tennessee. Internment with full Military Honors will be on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 12:30 pm at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery located at 2200 E. Governor John Sevier Hwy., Knoxville, TN.
In lieu of flowers, family suggest donations be made in Lt. Widener’s memory to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation (T2T.org).
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Lieutenant James (Jim) Widener, 72, of Maryville, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Born on September 12, 1954, in Dandridge, Tennessee, Lt. Widener had a deep sense of duty, community, and service to others. Answering the call to serve his country he enlisted with the United States Army, where he proudly served from 1981 – 1985.
After returning home from the military, Lt. Widener traded one uniform for another in his commitment to protect and serve during his career as a law enforcement officer. Lt. Widener joined Blount County Sheriff’s Office and retired 2019 where he served honorably for 32 years. Throughout his career as a police officer, he earned the respect of his fellow officers for his quiet dedication. His career was primarily in investigation with the later part of his career as a supervisor in Crime Scene investigation. He was especially committed to and pioneered polygraph testing in Tennessee.
Beyond his service, Lt. Widener enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, photography, fishing, and genealogy research.
Preceded in death by David and Addie Widener, Lt. Widener is survived by his wife Virginia (Jenny) Widener, sons Marty Widener and Tim (Donna) Wilson; grandson Bailey Widener; granddaughter Peyton Widener; and several other nieces and nephews. He leaves behind extended family members and fellow brothers and sisters in uniform.