Rogers “Roy” James

November 16, 2018

Rogers “Roy” James was born on April 30, 1937 to the late Henry and Emma James.  He was the 11th child of 13.  Roy was married to Lula Sarah James on June 5, 1965. They were married for 53 years.  They have four children:  Marie McDowell, Kevin James, Stacey Whavers, and Tracey Bennett.  On Friday, November 16, 2018, his Lord and Father called him home.

Rogers attended and graduated from Valena C. Jones High School, Bay St. Louis, MS.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Alcorn State University, a Master’s Degree in Guidance & Counseling from Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, and more than 18 hours toward a Master Degree in Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi.

He was a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Color People, a life member of the Alcorn National Alumni Association, and the National Guard Association. He was the first African American principal in the Bay-Waveland School District. He was the principal of North Bay Elementary, Bay Junior High School, and Bay High School in Bay St. Louis, MS.  He retired from the Bay-Waveland School District in 1993.

Rogers served 20 years in the Mississippi National Guard; he retired as a Sergeant First Class. He was a Desert Storm and Desert Shield veteran.

He was a member of the Little Providence Baptist Church in the Catahoula Community, where he served as a deacon for many years under the leadership of multiple pastors.  In addition to serving as deacon, he was a Sunday School teacher, the Chairman of the Trustee Board, and the President of the Spring Hill Triumph Singing Convention; though, most of all, he was a child of God.

Rogers was preceded in death by his parents; Henry and Emma James, Sr., four brothers; Arthur, Henry, Jr., Freddie, and George, eight sisters; Elzie Collins, Ruth Franklin, Ethel Walthour, Edna Oliver, Helen Ann Barnett, Gloria Jean James, Evelyn Newkirk, and Hattie Bell James. He leaves behind four children; Marie McDowell (Mike), Kevin James (Creola), Stacey Whavers (Adrian), and Tracey Bennett (DeCarlo); 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lula Bea James; a special son and daughter; Ceasar & Lisa Jones; three God-children; Angela Tucker, Janice Jackson, and Elizabeth Burton,  and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Most importantly, he leaves behind the love of his life, his wife, Lula Sarah James. 

Funeral Services for Roger James will be held at the Little Providence Baptist Church, 21150 Highway 43, Picayune, MS, 39466, in the Catahoula Community.  The wake will be Friday, November 23, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Visitation will be Saturday, November 24, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. and the funeral service will at 2:00 p.m.

Interment will be at the Catahoula Cemetery. The repast will be in the fellowship hall of the Little Providence Baptist Church following the internment.

Entrusted to Brown’s Funeral Home, 1011 Rosa Street, Picayune, MS.