John M. James was born on March 28, 1938 to the late Carlotta and Velvo James of Summerton, South Carolina. John fell asleep in death on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, after a brief illness.

At an early age, John attended Scotch Branch Elementary School in Summerton, South Carolina. As a teenager, his family moved to Brooklyn, New York where he attended Eli Whitney High School. John was employed by National Blue Print for 20 years.

John met and married Etta Jenkins. This union was blessed with two sons — John E. and Lamon. The couple later moved back to South Carolina and he affiliated himself with St. Mark Baptist Church. He will truly be missed by his family and community.

He leaves to mourn: his loving wife, Etta J. James; two sons, John E. (Rhonda) James of New York and Lamon James of the home; one sister, Charlotte Hunter of New York; six sisters-in-law, Maggie Primus, Mary Britt and Rumell Brown all of St. George, South Carolina, Elease Spell of Washington, DC, Janie (Norman) Brown of Holly Hill, SC, and Dorothy James of New York; two brothers-in-law, Albert Jenkins and Norman Brown of St. George, SC; five grandchildren, Racquel Francis, John E., Derek Kemp, Shameka Kemp and Shamoni Fields of New York; seven great-grandchildren; five nieces and three nephews of New York; seven nieces and eight nephews of South Carolina; one niece and one nephew of Washington, DC; one special aunt, Edna of New York; and a host of great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and friends.