Jimmy " Bub " Sanford James

Jimmy Sanford "Bub" James, 62, of Cornelius NC, passed away at his home on January 23 of natural causes. Bub was born on Christmas Day in 1955 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to the late Terry and Jimmy James. He moved to Charlotte with his family in 1967 and immediately began making lifelong friends. He attended Shamrock Gardens Elementary, Eastway Junior High, and was a 1974 graduate of Garinger High School where he excelled in football and baseball as team captain and MVP. He was named to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg first team all-county football and baseball teams as a senior. He went on to graduate from Wingate University in 1980. Bub grew up in the Country Club Heights section of Charlotte. His friendship and loyalty were a genuine gift. A gifted athlete, Bub was most comfortable in the gym, and took extreme care to exercise and stay in top physical shape throughout his life. He loved Lake Norman. The water, the sun, his boat, jet skis, but most of all the friends he made through the common love of the outdoors and lake living. He enjoyed his classic Mercedes-Benz 450SL. He enjoyed North Myrtle Beach. He enjoyed being a Shamrock Rat, an Eastway Trojan, and a Garinger Wildcat. He enjoyed a challenge. He enjoyed making others happy, and had the smile, personality and charm to make anyone he met feel comfortable. He had a kind soul and a big heart. He is survived by his aunt and uncle, June and Jerry Patchell of Nashville, TN; nephews Justin Adams of Charlotte, NC, and Joshua Adams of Indian Land, SC; nieces Lindsay Adams of Charlotte, NC, and Caycee Rikard (Todd Rikard) of Kings Mountain, NC. Bub was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather Terry and Tom Crane; his father Jimmy James; and his sister Sharon James Adams Lechner. A service to celebrate Bub's life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Plaza Presbyterian Church, 2304 The Plaza, Charlotte. Lifelong friends Ron "Fritz" Smith, Pastor of Johnston Memorial Presbyterian Church, and John "Big Boy" Austin, Director of Adventure Resources, will officiate. Burial will be private. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack "Pudge" Bacot, Dwight "The Catch" Clark, Jeff "Hawk" Collins, John "Big'un" Delaney, Mark "Pistol" Estep, Calvin "Coach" Hudgins, Danny "Ruf" Martin, Tom "Gilligan" Proctor, Randy "Dough" Riggins, Gary "Squiz" Robinson, Ronnie "The Dream" Stephens, Mike "Frosty" Todd and Raymond "Butch" Williams. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bub's name to Johnston Memorial Presbyterian Church, 729 East 36th Street, Charlotte, NC 28205. Celebration of Life Saturday, February 3, 2018 1:00 PM Plaza Presbyterian Church 2304 The Plaza Charlotte NC 28205 United States 704-376-8594