HICKORY Mrs. Margie Josephine Cornelius James, affectionately known as "Mama Jo," departed her life Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at Catawba Regional Hospice following a brief illness at the age of 97 years, 8 months and 1 day.
Mrs. James was born Oct. 6, 1918, to the union of A. Columbus and Carrie Gabriel Cornelius. She was one of eight children, four of which died in infancy. Mrs. James was born in Sherrills Ford and came to Hickory in 1935.
She graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1938. She sang in the Glee Club and was a soloist under the direction of Dr. Dillard. She won awards as alto soloist at the State Music Convention in Winston-Salem. Mrs. James was a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for 67 years. She served as Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Principal, Chairperson of the Kitchen Committee, President of the Deaconess Ministry, a member of the Trustee Ministry, Lottie Barbour Mission, and the Board of Christian Education. She was a member of the Soul Stirrer's Chorus and the Sanctuary Choir. She served as Worthy Matron for Pride of Hickory Chapter 519 Order of Eastern Stars for 2 years. She was president of the Hickory Women's Civic Club, President of the Hi-lite Senior Citizens Club, and was one of the founders of the Orchid Social Club. She served on the Board of Cooperative Christian Ministry; Hickory Apperance Commission for four years; Hickory Horizon Blue Ribbon Task Force, Hickory Human relations Council and volunteered at the Hickory Soup Kitchen for over 20 years. Mrs. James was the first African American registrar for Catawba County and served this position for 26 years.
In addition to her parents her husband, Robie C. James, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Classie Mae Cornelius Harris, Sekina Cornelius James and Virginia Dare Cornelius Robinson; and one brother, Winfield Stevenson "Doc" Cornelius.
She leaves to cherish loving memories two daughters, Margie Josephine James Singletary of Hickory and Gloria James Sudderth McKeldin (Harry) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Angela P. Hughes (Bruce) of Auburn, Ga., Wanda M. Sudderth of Hickory, Tammera Sudderth Hill of Holly Springs and Samuel Erik Hunt of Hickory; five great-grandchildren, David Brunson Jr. (Heather) of Winter Park, Fla., Stephanie Brunson Oliver (Anthony) of Winder, Ga., Joshua E. Hunt and Kayla Morrison of Lincolnton and Gloria Grace Wilson of Holly Springs; three great-great-grandchildren, David Brunson II (Tre), Lucy Jo Brunson of Winter Park and Anthony Oliver Jr. of Winder; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, June 11, at 3 p.m., at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Antonio Logan officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgeview Cemetery.
Hickory Daily Record Jun 10, 2016
Mrs. James was born Oct. 6, 1918, to the union of A. Columbus and Carrie Gabriel Cornelius. She was one of eight children, four of which died in infancy. Mrs. James was born in Sherrills Ford and came to Hickory in 1935.
She graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1938. She sang in the Glee Club and was a soloist under the direction of Dr. Dillard. She won awards as alto soloist at the State Music Convention in Winston-Salem. Mrs. James was a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for 67 years. She served as Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Principal, Chairperson of the Kitchen Committee, President of the Deaconess Ministry, a member of the Trustee Ministry, Lottie Barbour Mission, and the Board of Christian Education. She was a member of the Soul Stirrer's Chorus and the Sanctuary Choir. She served as Worthy Matron for Pride of Hickory Chapter 519 Order of Eastern Stars for 2 years. She was president of the Hickory Women's Civic Club, President of the Hi-lite Senior Citizens Club, and was one of the founders of the Orchid Social Club. She served on the Board of Cooperative Christian Ministry; Hickory Apperance Commission for four years; Hickory Horizon Blue Ribbon Task Force, Hickory Human relations Council and volunteered at the Hickory Soup Kitchen for over 20 years. Mrs. James was the first African American registrar for Catawba County and served this position for 26 years.
In addition to her parents her husband, Robie C. James, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Classie Mae Cornelius Harris, Sekina Cornelius James and Virginia Dare Cornelius Robinson; and one brother, Winfield Stevenson "Doc" Cornelius.
She leaves to cherish loving memories two daughters, Margie Josephine James Singletary of Hickory and Gloria James Sudderth McKeldin (Harry) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Angela P. Hughes (Bruce) of Auburn, Ga., Wanda M. Sudderth of Hickory, Tammera Sudderth Hill of Holly Springs and Samuel Erik Hunt of Hickory; five great-grandchildren, David Brunson Jr. (Heather) of Winter Park, Fla., Stephanie Brunson Oliver (Anthony) of Winder, Ga., Joshua E. Hunt and Kayla Morrison of Lincolnton and Gloria Grace Wilson of Holly Springs; three great-great-grandchildren, David Brunson II (Tre), Lucy Jo Brunson of Winter Park and Anthony Oliver Jr. of Winder; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, June 11, at 3 p.m., at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Antonio Logan officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgeview Cemetery.
Hickory Daily Record Jun 10, 2016
HICKORY Mrs. Margie Josephine Cornelius James, affectionately known as "Mama Jo," departed her life Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at Catawba Regional Hospice following a brief illness at the age of 97 years, 8 months and 1 day.
Mrs. James was born Oct. 6, 1918, to the union of A. Columbus and Carrie Gabriel Cornelius. She was one of eight children, four of which died in infancy. Mrs. James was born in Sherrills Ford and came to Hickory in 1935.
She graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1938. She sang in the Glee Club and was a soloist under the direction of Dr. Dillard. She won awards as alto soloist at the State Music Convention in Winston-Salem. Mrs. James was a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for 67 years. She served as Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Principal, Chairperson of the Kitchen Committee, President of the Deaconess Ministry, a member of the Trustee Ministry, Lottie Barbour Mission, and the Board of Christian Education. She was a member of the Soul Stirrer's Chorus and the Sanctuary Choir. She served as Worthy Matron for Pride of Hickory Chapter 519 Order of Eastern Stars for 2 years. She was president of the Hickory Women's Civic Club, President of the Hi-lite Senior Citizens Club, and was one of the founders of the Orchid Social Club. She served on the Board of Cooperative Christian Ministry; Hickory Apperance Commission for four years; Hickory Horizon Blue Ribbon Task Force, Hickory Human relations Council and volunteered at the Hickory Soup Kitchen for over 20 years. Mrs. James was the first African American registrar for Catawba County and served this position for 26 years.
In addition to her parents her husband, Robie C. James, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Classie Mae Cornelius Harris, Sekina Cornelius James and Virginia Dare Cornelius Robinson; and one brother, Winfield Stevenson "Doc" Cornelius.
She leaves to cherish loving memories two daughters, Margie Josephine James Singletary of Hickory and Gloria James Sudderth McKeldin (Harry) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Angela P. Hughes (Bruce) of Auburn, Ga., Wanda M. Sudderth of Hickory, Tammera Sudderth Hill of Holly Springs and Samuel Erik Hunt of Hickory; five great-grandchildren, David Brunson Jr. (Heather) of Winter Park, Fla., Stephanie Brunson Oliver (Anthony) of Winder, Ga., Joshua E. Hunt and Kayla Morrison of Lincolnton and Gloria Grace Wilson of Holly Springs; three great-great-grandchildren, David Brunson II (Tre), Lucy Jo Brunson of Winter Park and Anthony Oliver Jr. of Winder; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, June 11, at 3 p.m., at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Antonio Logan officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgeview Cemetery.
Hickory Daily Record Jun 10, 2016
Mrs. James was born Oct. 6, 1918, to the union of A. Columbus and Carrie Gabriel Cornelius. She was one of eight children, four of which died in infancy. Mrs. James was born in Sherrills Ford and came to Hickory in 1935.
She graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1938. She sang in the Glee Club and was a soloist under the direction of Dr. Dillard. She won awards as alto soloist at the State Music Convention in Winston-Salem. Mrs. James was a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for 67 years. She served as Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Principal, Chairperson of the Kitchen Committee, President of the Deaconess Ministry, a member of the Trustee Ministry, Lottie Barbour Mission, and the Board of Christian Education. She was a member of the Soul Stirrer's Chorus and the Sanctuary Choir. She served as Worthy Matron for Pride of Hickory Chapter 519 Order of Eastern Stars for 2 years. She was president of the Hickory Women's Civic Club, President of the Hi-lite Senior Citizens Club, and was one of the founders of the Orchid Social Club. She served on the Board of Cooperative Christian Ministry; Hickory Apperance Commission for four years; Hickory Horizon Blue Ribbon Task Force, Hickory Human relations Council and volunteered at the Hickory Soup Kitchen for over 20 years. Mrs. James was the first African American registrar for Catawba County and served this position for 26 years.
In addition to her parents her husband, Robie C. James, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Classie Mae Cornelius Harris, Sekina Cornelius James and Virginia Dare Cornelius Robinson; and one brother, Winfield Stevenson "Doc" Cornelius.
She leaves to cherish loving memories two daughters, Margie Josephine James Singletary of Hickory and Gloria James Sudderth McKeldin (Harry) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Angela P. Hughes (Bruce) of Auburn, Ga., Wanda M. Sudderth of Hickory, Tammera Sudderth Hill of Holly Springs and Samuel Erik Hunt of Hickory; five great-grandchildren, David Brunson Jr. (Heather) of Winter Park, Fla., Stephanie Brunson Oliver (Anthony) of Winder, Ga., Joshua E. Hunt and Kayla Morrison of Lincolnton and Gloria Grace Wilson of Holly Springs; three great-great-grandchildren, David Brunson II (Tre), Lucy Jo Brunson of Winter Park and Anthony Oliver Jr. of Winder; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, June 11, at 3 p.m., at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Antonio Logan officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgeview Cemetery.
Hickory Daily Record Jun 10, 2016
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