James Williams

James Albert Williams Aug 16, 1922 ? Mar 11, 2012 James A. (Jim) Williams, 89, passed away at his home on Sunday, March 11, 2012 and went to be with his Lord and Savior. Jim was born August 16, 1922, in Charlotte, NC, the son of J. Leon and Bessie Steere Williams, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Charlotte since 1947. Jim moved to Cary, NC in 2007 to be close to his daughters. Jim attended Central High School in Charlotte where he was known as ?Jumbo? and was an outstanding boxer on the high school team who lost only one bout at the state championships in 1939. Jim was also a successful middleweight Golden Gloves fighter. Jim was proud of his service in the US Navy from August 1940 until 1946. He served on the USS Morris and then on the USS Hopewell. He was in battles in the North Atlantic, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Aleutian Islands, Philippines, Corregidor, Solomon Islands, Attu and Kiska, ending up in Japan at the end of the war. Jim had several careers during his lifetime, and he most enjoyed those where he interacted with people ? Travel Tours, Trailways, Action Personnel, and American Express Co. He was also president of National Adjustment Bureau for 10 years. Jim was married for almost 54 years to Bernice Funderburk who preceded him in death in 2001. He is survived by his daughters, Carol W. Breckheimer and her husband, Austin Ferguson, and Linda W. Schmitt and her husband Robert of Cary, NC; six grandchildren, Katherine Capps, Elizabeth Russell, Emily Schmitt, Erin Schmitt, Katie Hurley, and Brian Schmitt; three great-grandchildren, and his three cats. Jim was a loving and generous husband, father, and grandfather who will be missed by all. Jim was an avid golfer and sports fan all his life. A funeral service will be held at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service in Charlotte, NC on Thursday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park. Memorial donations in Jim?s memory may be made to First Baptist Church, Charlotte, 301 South Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.