DATE: Thursday, October 9, 1997             TAG: 9710090406

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   39 lines

RUTH W. JAMES

Ruth Harrison Wilson James, widow of Ellis M. James, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1997, at the age of 84 in her son's residence.

Mrs. James, a native of South Norfolk, was a graduate of Maury High School and the College of William and Mary. She was the first woman student at Old Dominion University in 1930 when it was a branch of William and Mary. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Mu Fraternity. In later years, she earned a master's degree at ODU while serving as director of St. John's Cooperative Kindergarten and later while teaching kindergarten in the Norfolk Public Schools.

She was a member of Freemason Street Baptist Church. In 1996, she was elected one of the church's first women deacons.

In the late 1940s, she became a member of the Women's Interracial Council. In 1958, Mrs. James and her husband, on behalf of their daughter, were the lead-off litigants in the James v. Almond suit to reopen the Norfolk Public Schools that were closed when ordered to integrate, and in the James v. Duckworth suit to reopen the same schools kept closed by the City of Norfolk.

She served as co-chairman of the Parent-Student-Teacher Association committee that, after a 3 1/2 year effort, persuaded the Norfolk City Council to acquire land for Maury High School's physical education and athletic activities.

Survivors include two sons, Ellis W. James of Norfolk and Franklin W. James of Anderson, S.C.; a daughter, Pendleton Moudrianakis of Baltimore; a sister, Elizabeth W. Downey of Virginia Beach; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in Freemason Street Baptist Church by Dr. Donald J. Dunlap and Franklin W. James. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Freemason Street Baptist Church, Old Dominion University or a charity of your choice. ILLUSTRATION: Photo KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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