Jimmie is a twenty-two year Navy sailor, and formerly a male nurse. He is Jo's boyfriend in Act 1, before he ships out for six months and never returns.

Jimmie seems to have a genuine affection for Jo, despite proving to be unreliable. He is honestly surprised to see that Jo has no hesitation to be in a relationship with a black man, the first (white) girl he ever met who feels that way. He teases her about his ancestry, from 'Cardiff', as opposed to an exotic tribal lineage. Later, Jo herself refers to him as a fantasy figure, Prince Ossini, though relents that he was merely Jimmie, a boy she knew no longer than a dream. He proposes marriage to Jo with a ring he bought in Woolworths - a discount department store, and gives Jo a toy car he carries. This exchange shows the childish level of responsibility later realised through his absence.