JAMES
JAMES, Lillian Carver Lillian Carver James, 94, of Crab Orchard, passed away peacefully at home Thursday morning, Jan. 31, 2008. Born in Lester on Sept. 13, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Roscoe and Ida Smith Carver. She grew up in Lester and was a graduate of Trap Hill High School. Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenneth Russell “Duke” James; son, Thomas James; brothers, Wallace Smallwood and James Millard Walker, buried at Arlington National Cemetery; sisters, Peggy Walker Snodgrass and Betty Walker Bennett and husband, Earl; and nephew, Michael Hresan. Survivors are two sons, Kenneth Duke James of Crab Orchard and George Carver James of Daniels; daughter, Mary Katherine and husband, Dr. Bill Moorman, of Valdosta, Ga.; three grandsons, Dr. Kenneth Duke James and wife, Stacey, of Mebane N.C., Dr. W. Ashley Moorman and wife, Melanie, of Valdosta, Ga., and Dr. Ryan Moorman of Valdosta; two granddaughters, Kelly Jo and husband, Joey Ellison, of Dunns and Keri MacKenzie James of Concord, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Daffney Matics, Ashton Moorman, Warren Bay Moorman, Mills Moorman, Joshua James and Anna James; daughters-in-law, Carol Sue McKinney James of Mullens and Brenda Warden Habib and husband, Ed, of Grandview; nieces and nephews, Earl Thomas Bennett and wife, Chris, of South Charleston, James Bennett and wife, Linda, of Charleston, Freddie Smallwood of Eccles, David Snodgrass and wife, Kaye, of Herndon, Va., Lora Jean Johnston and husband, John, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Leisa Carol Snodgrass of Alexandria, Va.; brother-in-law, Thomas Snodgrass of Alexandria; best friends, Bonnie Fern Wickline of Fredricksburg Va., Inez Moore of Beckley and Margaret Daniel of Beckley. Mrs. James managed and owned James Grocery Store in Crab Orchard for 20-plus years. After that she worked with the mental health department. At age 59 she was the founding director of the Raleigh County Sheltered Worshop, now the Lillian James Learning Center, and remained the executive director up until her death. She spent two terms in the West Virginia Silver Haired Legislature, a 75-year-plus member of the Degree of Honor. Mrs. James was a member of Crab Orchard Baptist Church for 71 years. She was involved for most of her life with the Beckley Area Foundation. She was a charter member of the Orchard Valley Women’s Club and served as president and was Woman of the Year. In 2002, she was chosen West Virginia’s representative to Washington, D.C., for the Older Working Americans Convention. Joe Manchin, while secretary of state, presented her with the highest Medal of Honor, that can be given to a citizen. The awards and acknowledgements she received line the walls of her home. One couldn’t meet her without loving her. She was ointment to the broken-hearted, sunshine to the lonely, and always was a help in times of need. Her strong work ethic and impeccable integrity had a way of making life better for everyone around her. Our mom possessed all the good traits in life. She was a loving, forgiving, and faithful, generous, encouraging, very wise, honest and trustworthy. Mom was strong, yet resilient, and firm with her discipline. We can still hear those keen switches swooshing in the air. When it was time to play, there were no two people more fun to be with than our Mom and Dad. At a very young age we knew we would go to college. Mom wanted us to have an education. Sometimes I wish we had all sent her to college. However, I realize she would have never quit her job to do so. What a privilege and an honor to have grown up with her at the helm of our lives. She and Dad not only raised the four of us, but they raised her two younger sisters before we came along. Then, one young cousin stayed with us while her parents went to find work in the D.C. area when the mines closed. Three other cousins took their turns while attending Beckley College. Even after leaving the nest, we siblings tried to plan our trips to Crab Orchard all at the same time. Usually our roommates were quick to say, “Can I go, too?” Everyone who ever visited our home or knew Mom and Dad were always treated like family. Their hospitality was like a magnet. There was never a shortage of hilarious stories (the kind you never get tired of hearing) great food to eat and fun games to play. Mom made sure we realized that we would be faced with problems in life. She taught us to learn from the bad, hold onto the good from those experiences and move on. God gives us the strength to do so. Care givers were Dorothy Koontz, Brenda Heath, Daphne Suddreth, Norma Raines, Mary Fink and Hospice of Southern West Virginia. Services for Lillian James are at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley, with visitation 4 to 9 p.m. today and funeral service at 1 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Phil Shields officiating.
Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers in attendance will be Ashley Moorman, Ryan Moorman, Ken James, Russell Perkins, Ed Habib and Ronald Reid. Arrangements made by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley. [From the files of Barbara Rice. Obituary posted with permission from Dave.] Thursday, May 22, 2008 – Advocate-Messenger