Mr. Alford was a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal. He practiced law for more than 50 years. He was active in the development of the oil and gas industry as an independent operator for more than four decades. He was a WWII veteran, serving first in the infantry in New Guinea and later as a fighter pilot at Iwo Jima. He served many years as the city attorney for McComb, MS and board attorney for the McComb Housing Authority. He was past president of the McComb Rotary Club, honorary colonel on the staff of four governors, former member of the McComb School Board and served as chairman of the State Educational Finance Commission. He served as president and chairman of First Federal Savings and Loan of McComb and a board member of Magnolia Federal Bank. He was a former member of the board of directors of First National Bank of McComb, now part of Trustmark National Bank. He was king of the McComb Junior Auxiliary Azalea Ball and was recipient of the Oliver Emmerich Award. He served on boards of the McComb Chamber of Commerce and Metro-Pike Industrial Foundation. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob Elias Alford and Josephine Bertha Egloff Alford; a brother, Julius Mosby "Pooley" Alford; and a half-sister, Ella Quin Alford Mixon.

He was survived by his wife, Anna Katherine Rutledge Alford; one son, James L. Alford, Jr. of McComb; three daughters, Emily Carlisle of McComb, Kathy Swaney of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Elise Lambuth of Jackson, MS; two brothers, Jacob Egloff Alford of New Orleans, LA and John Warren Alford of Pass Christian, MS; and 10 grandchildren.