Jim Tom Hedrick Dies: ‘Moonshiners’ Star And Master Distiller Was 82

deadline.com:

Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick, the colorful master distiller from Discovery’s Moonshiners, passed away this morning, according to his co-stars Eric “Digger” Manes and Mark Ramsey.

He was 82. Hedrick was on Moonshiners almost since the show’s inception. He joined the cast for Season 2 in 2012 and remained with the show through Season 6.

He left to go legit, helping start Sugarland Shine, a distillery in Gatlinberg, TN. The company’s web site describes him as a “moonshiner, master storyteller and still maker,” and “one of the most skilled moonshiners in Appalachia.” See him hold forth on the ways of a master shiner in the Moonshiners clip below.

In August, Digger and Mark posted photos of Jim Tom convalescing, with the note, “Prayers for our buddy Jim Tom! Praying for comfort and peace!