Celebration of Life for Superintendent Dr. Leroy James, Sunrise June 27, 1945, Sunset December 19, 2022.

CertEBRAIION OF LIF.E FOR

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SUNRISE JUNE 27,1945

SUNSET DECEMBER 19, 2022

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

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UPERINTENDENT DR. LEROY JAMES

Friday, December 23, 2022 11:00 A.M.

GILBERT LAMBUTH CHAPEL / PAINE COLLEGE 1200 Druid Park Avenue | Augusta, Georgia

INTERMENT
BELLEVUE MEMORIAL GARDENS 4501 Wrightsboro Road | Augusta, Georgia

REPAST

FRIENDLY CHURCH OF GOD AND CHRIST 1115 Carrie Steet | Augusta, Georgia

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Presiding | Elder Charles Givens Pastor, New Frazier Temple COGIC

Eulogist | Bishop Mark Walden Prelate, Northern GA II Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

2 HIS LIFE IN SERMON (Headings are Superintendent Dr. Leroy James' Sermon Titles)
"LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD ISIN IT"
Superintendent Dr. Leroy James was born on June 27, 1945, in Florence, South Carolina, to Walter James, Sr. and Corene Cooper James. He was the youngest of four children: Walter James, Jr., Robert Lee, and Virginia Corene. He gave his life to God at the age of nine. He often shared stories of he and his siblings playing church, singing on the radio with their group, `The Jubilee Singers', and baptizing pigeons. Elder James was raised in the church that his parents pastored. He was a 1963 graduate of Wilson High School and President of his senior class. His brother, Robert, encouraged him to enroll at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. In his senior year, he met LaDoris Kirby, a freshman, and fell in love. She began attending church with him at the Friendly Church of God in Christ. He graduated from Paine College in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Upon graduation, Superintendent Dr. Leroy James was drafted into the Unitd States Army, where he served for two years.
"THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOME CROWD"
He married his college sweetheart on August 22, 1970, and to their union, four children were born: Leroy Raphael, LaDonna Michelle, Leron Reginald, and Lawrence Michael. They settled in Augusta, Georgia. The James household was filled with lots of love and laughs. The home crowd enjoyed many days of board games, sing-a-longs, vacations, storytelling, and filming cinematic productions. It was Superintendent Dr. Leroy James' idea to take the family on a | _ trip to Washington, DC in his new pickup truck. He placed carpet in the truck bed for the | children to ride on. What an unforgettable ride!
"ENCOURAGED TO SERVE"
Superintendent Dr. Leroy James began his career as the Assistant Dean of Students at Paine College while working on his Masters in Counseling at the University of South CarolinaAiken. He graduated in 1975 and was employed in the Richmond County School System as a Guidance Counselor. He served as Counselor at Lucy C. Laney High School, T. W. Josey High School, Hephzibah High School, and the Alternative School. However, this did not stop him from counseling students in the church, community, and other schools. One of his greatest joys was helping students secure scholarships for college. He retired in 2000 to serve full
time in ministry.
"THE GREATEST INVITATION OF ALL'
It was evident that Superintendent Dr. Leroy James had a heart for the youth. He and Sister James initially began working with the youth. He also assisted Pastor Elder C. W. Wood with Sunday School and other areas of ministry. In the mid-seventies, Superintendent Dr. Leroy James informed Elder Wood that he had been called to teach. Elder Wood, in his excitement, announced to the church that "Brother James has been called to preach!" Elder

HIS LIFE IN SERMON CONT. S=
Vood made Superintendent Dr. Leroy James the Assistant Pastor, and upon Elder Wood's death, he became Pastor in 1984. Under his leadership, a scholarship fund was started, new ministries were formed, like the Soup Kitchen and eventually the church moved to two services. Superintendent Dr. Leroy James enjoyed thinking out of the box, which led to an annual Thanksgiving Fellowship with Harmony Baptist Church. Bishop J. Howard Dell appointed him as a Superintendent in the 90's. He later supported Bishop Mark Walden in the Second Northern Georgia Jurisdiction as his Administrative Assistant. In 2016, he announced his retirement from the ministry.
"THE REWARD OF FAITHFULNESS" While Superintendent Dr. Leroy James was elevated in ministry, he also served in the community. He served as a Panelist on the Richmond County Tribunal Board. He was a Member and President of the Optimist Club. He was a trustee on the C. H. Mason Board with the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from St. Thomas University in Florida.
"THE CHARGE" Family was important to Superintendent Dr. Leroy James. He was preceded in death by: his father, Walter James, Sr.; mother, Corene Cooper James; brother, Robert Lee James; and sister, Virginia Corene Austin.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his dedicated wife of fifty-two years, LaDoris Kirby James; brother, Walter (Nora) James, Sr.; sister-in-law, Fannie James; four loving children, Raphael (Sarena) James, LaDonna (Jerome) Davis, Reginald (Terri) James, and Michael (Kauren) James; eight grandchildren, Jaydn, Grant, Nia, Janiya, Zachary, Jaxon, Zuri, and Josiah; the Kirby family; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
SUPERINTENDENT DR. LEROY JAMES
WOULD WANT YOU TO LEAVE WITH THESE 3 POINTS:
1. Win One for Christ
2. Love one another
3. Youth are the foundation of the ministry. Build them strong.

"WHEN TOMORROW

TS WITHOUT ME"

When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not here to see [f the sun should rise and tind your eyes are filled with tears for me
/ wish so much you wouldnt cry the way you did today While thinking of the many things we didnt get to say / know how much you love me, as much as | love you And each time you think ofme, 1 know youll miss me too But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand
And said my place was ready, in Heaven far above And that Id have to leave behind all those | dearly love But when | walked through Heaven's gate, | felt so much at home When God looked down and smiled at me from His great golden throne
He sad this Is eternity and all! promised you Today your life on Earth Is past, but here it starts anew
/ promise no tomorrow, for today will always last And since each day's the same way, there's no longing for the past
So when tomorrow starts without me dont think we're far apart For every time you think of me, [m right here in your heart

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PALLBEARERS
Alton Kirby Andrew Kirby Joshua Kirby Wallace James Walter James, III
Lee James
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HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Augusta District Church of God In Christ Pastors

~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The family of Pastor Leroy James (emeritus), with hearts filled with gratitude and
appreciation, thank you for the many prayers, phone calls, gifts, cards, meals, and -- other deeds of kindness done on his behalf during his illness and passing. Some of you volunteered your time to sit with him on occasion and performed other tasks that helped the family to meet the demands required for his care. You went beyond
reasonable expectations. Thank you.
Special thanks is extended to the Friendly COGIC and Agape Care hospice service.
May God reward each of you greatly for the kind seeds you have sown.
W.H. MAYS MORTUARY
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