It would not do you much good to request them from the county. some countys kept them and some didnt most were not required by Law to keep them until 1911 Tenn is better than most. but your best bet would be to write to the local library in Knoxville for an obit for him. it might mention his parents and his place of birth and such. Here is another thing. Your last name is Pace? So I looked for a Head and Pace marriage and found two for the time frame James would have been born. which that is in dispute also. one has him born in 1900 and one in 1902 census has 1902. that is always off by a few years. but I found one for a Stella Pace and James Head before 1900. This couple was white. found one for a Jack Head and Cora Pace. This couple was colored the only two marriages in TN. with those names. Jack was often a nickname for John. Do you know if your James had any siblings.
Happy Thanksgiving
Sue