Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992 TAG: 9203150088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Southwest bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Short
James, 65, was visiting his daughter when he experienced chest pains and was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 6:11 a.m.
He served on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors from 1968 through 1989, and as chairman of the governing body for the last 10 years of his board service.
He was active in many civic, church and governmental groups and was recently appointed to the county's Joint Industrial Development Authority.
When he retired from the governing body, he expressed the hope that the county and its two towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat would continue their quarterly meetings and cooperative efforts that had been started while he was on the board.
James had been a star athlete at Emory & Henry College and had played baseball professionally. He was captain of a charter group elected to the Wythe County Sports Hall of Fame, and had been a high school coach before entering the insurance business.
He developed James Insurance Agency Inc. and, for years, was a familiar voice on Wytheville radio with after-school ads for his business when he would advise motorists that "my children and yours" were on their way home from school. After his children graduated, the message was changed to "your children and my friends."
The Barnett Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
by CNB