Obituary of Arthur Whiteford James

Arthur Whiteford James, 96, widower of Mary Esther Dinkins James, died Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Rembert, he was the son of Charles Sebastian James and Leila Thompson James. Mr. James was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and he was a U. S. Army veteran of World War II. Mr. James worked with farm related commodities. He was the retired owner and operator of the Farmers Gin Company in Dalzell. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sumter and was an associate member of the French Huguenot Church in Charleston. He was also a member of the Farm Bureau, the American Legion and the SC Huguenot Society. Mr. James was one of the founders of Thomas Sumter Academy and served for a number of years on the board there. He was a generous supporter of many community projects. He helped coach the Little League ball teams for a number of years and also helped with the American Legion ball teams. Surviving are three sons, Arthur Whiteford “Whit” James Jr. and his wife Beth Segars James, Robert Hastings James and his wife, Frances Richardson James, and William Hamilton James and his wife Cindy Gardner James all of Sumter; 8 grandchildren, Lisa James Hayes and her husband Jeff, Fran James Blakeney and her husband Jim, Hamilton James Hollis and her husband Keith, Ellen James Peek and her husband Daniel, Will James and his wife Anna, Robert James, Jonathan Caneda and Leslie Caneda; four great-grandchildren, Marywhit Blakeney, John Hayes, Mac Blakeney and McKinley Hollis; his sister-in-law, Katherine Dinkins Rappe and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles S. James and William Howard James; six sisters, Lenora James Dent, Mary Elizabeth James, Carrie James Abel, Eugenia James Scott, Marian Carson James and Louise James Godbold. Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Thursday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Fancher officiating. Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Buddy Rivers, Charles Edens, Roddey Rappe, Sammy Burrows, Bill Lindler and Tommy Laney and Hank Edens. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 A.M. Thursday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boys Farm, P. O. Box 713, Newberry, SC 29108. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com The family would like to express their great appreciation to the staff of Angelic Companions. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.