James Family Archives

 

•  Researching the Past

•  Education for the Present

•  Preservation for the Future

 

Children of Edward Newman James (1901-1982) and Ira Belle Denton (1902-2001) of Alabama:

 

1.    Dr. Jesse Clopton James:  born February 29, 1924 in Lauderdale County, Alabama; married September 27, 1947 in Jemison, Chilton County, Alabama to Barbara Brown Hayman; died April 11, 2019 (aged 95) in Madison County, Alabama; buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in Colbert County, Alabama; known children include: Jeb Stuart James, Jerry Hayman James, Emily Caroline James, and Barbara Kate James.

 

2.    Vera Viola James:  born December 19, 1925 in Lauderdale County, Alabama; first marriage to Jesse Henry Hammond (1918-1973), son of Aaron Henry Hammond (1891-1937) and Lacy Irene Williams (1898-1943); second marriage to Grady Holt; died October 17, 2017 (aged 91) in Saint Peters, St. Charles County, Missouri; buried at Greenview Memorial Gardens, Forest Hills, Lauderdale County, Alabama; known children include: Jesse Hammond, Daniel Hammond, Nancy Holt and Margaret Holt.

 

3.    Malcolm Wallace James:  born May 9, 1928 in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama; married Jessie Joyce Barnes (1930-2000), daughter of William Louis Barnes and Isa Belzora Butler; died May 18, 2017 (aged 89) in Georgia; buried at Byron City Cemetery, Byron, Peach County, Georgia; known children include: Edward Louis James (Family Tree DNA Kit No. 750520), Rebecca Ann James and Jonathan David James.

 

4.    Dr. Bryson Lemoine James:  born September 12, 1930 in Florence, Lauderdale County Alabama; first marriage to Anna Marie James; second marriage July 6, 1991 to Frances Pedigo; died April 29, 2017 (aged 86) in Sparta, White County, Tennessee; buried at Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Mc Minnville, Warren County, Tennessee; known children include:  Edward Michael James.

 

5.    Edward Ira James:  born November 28, 1938 in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama; married Pauline; died December 27, 2009 (aged 71) in Peach County, Georgia; buried at Byron City Cemetery, Byron, Peach County, Georgia; known children include:  Doug James, Dennis James and Jayna James.

 

6.    Graham Farris James:

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Notes:

 

Edward Newman James (1901-1982) was the son of Andrew Jackson James (1844-1902) and Martha Ann Britnell of Franklin County, Alabama.

 

Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019) - grew up in the East Florence community of Sweetwater, Alabama where in high school he worked at the local fertilizer plant for 15 cents an hour. He recalled, however, that the hardest work he ever did was in his mother’s large garden where he also fed the hogs, milked the cow, and on Saturdays drew water by hand out of the 104-foot well.  Jesse, or Clopton as his family called him, graduated from Florence’s Coffee High School in 1941. He served in the Army Air Corps at the onset of WWII. While training to be a fighter pilot, he developed a serious illness, was hospitalized for months, and was honorably discharged.  Jesse attended Auburn University, earning BS degrees in electrical engineering in 1945 and in engineering physics in 1946.  On September 27, 1947, Jesse Clopton married the love of his life, Barbara Brown Hayman in Jemison, Alabama. Together they were blessed with four children: Jeb Stuart, Jerry Hayman, Emily Caroline, and Barbara Kate.  Jesse received MA degree in nuclear physics in 1950 from Rice University and a PhD in electrical engineering and physics in 1958 at Georgia Tech. During these years, he worked for Southern Research Institute in many areas of analysis, design, and experimental fieldwork, as well as for the US Navy and Army.  Following graduation from Georgia Tech, he moved the family to Lexington, Massachusetts to join MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory. In 1961, MIT moved the James family to El Campo, Texas, where for nine years Jesse’s research group did ground breaking study of Venus, Mars and the sun. In the 1960’s, he was the first to discover liquid water below the surface of Mars using radio waves.  In 1970, MIT sent the James family to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands where Jesse helped develop the government’s anti-ballistic missile system. While on Kwajalein, he became an accomplished scuba diver and sailor, once sailing solo hundreds of miles across open ocean in a small boat to visit isolated islands. Following years in the development of our nation’s defense with MIT, McDonnell Douglas, and Teldyne Brown Engineering, he managed the Harvard Radio Astronomy Station near Fort Davis, Texas.  Jesse wrote many chapters for technical books and authored 22 papers in scientific journals. He holds 12 patents plus another invention involving a stealth technique for planes and missiles for which a patent cannot be issued due to security classification. He finally retired at the age of 82, but continued to work at tree farming and woodworking, with (many family and friends enjoying fine furniture pieces lovingly created by him). He did extensive family tree research before the age of the internet, visiting countless courthouse records and graveyards to write many volumes on the family tree. At 92, he authored and published ‘The Bible: Two Proofs and Two Mis-Translations” in which he argued for his strong belief that the Bible and proved science agree.

 

Malcolm Wallace James (1928-2017) - after attending college he went to work as a superintendent at a fertilizer plant which he did for many years. Mr. James was a jack of all trades and loved to build and work with his tools. He was known for building houses, barns, and shops. He had a great sense of humor and loved cutting up with friends and family. He was a devout Christian and a faithful member of Church of Christ Hartley Bridge Road.

 

Dr. Bryson Lemoine James (1930-2017) - was a former Professor of Horticulture at the University of North Carolina, former Director of Horticultural Research at the University of Florida and after moving to Mc Minnville, he became a Consulting Horticulturist with the nursery industry and many other clients. He volunteered as Director of Horticultural Research for the Southern Nursery Association and directed it's Annual Research Conference for thirty-seven years. He was the son of the late Edward Newman and Ira Belle Denton James, a member of Christ Family Church and veteran of the United States Air Force.

 

Edward Ira James (1938-2009) was a graduate of Auburn University School of Forestry. He was a board member of Middle Georgia Christian School, a member of Thomaston Road Church of Christ, and a successful farmer & nurseryman for 43 years

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Sources:

 

See, Family Records of Sandra and Edward Louis James.

 

See also, “Obituary of Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019),” published by Morrison Funeral Home of 12081 Highway 20,

Florence, Alabama.

 

See also, “Obituary of Dr. Bryson Lemoine James (1930-2017),” published by High’s Funeral Home of 101 College St., Mc Minnville, Tennessee.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019), Memorial ID No. 198313654, by Reva Bradford, added April 13, 2019.

 

Vera Viola James Hammond/Holt (1925-2017), Memorial ID No. 184763659, by Joy Favors, added October 29, 2017.

 

Jesse Henry Hammond (1918-1973), Memorial ID No. 126403436, by Alex Roller, added March 15, 2014.

 

Malcolm Wallace James (1928-2017), Memorial ID No. 179513517, by Loree Beacham, added May 19, 2017.

 

Jessie Joyce Barnes James (1930-2000), Memorial ID No. 9034028, by Jean Ruland, added July 3, 2004.

 

Dr. Bryson Lemoine James (1930-2017), Memorial ID No. 178903574, by KTS, added April 30, 2017.

 

Anna Marie James (unk-unk), Memorial ID No. 254229863, by KLS, added May 23, 2023.

 

Edward Ira James (1938-2009), Memorial ID No. 60280780, by Ms. Clyde, added October 18, 2010.

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Photos:

Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019)

 

Top Left to Right: Malcolm Wallace James (1928-2017) and Edward Ira James (1938-2009)

Bottom Left to Right: Dr. Bryson Lemoine James (1930-2017) and Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019)

 

Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019) with parents

Ira Belle Denton James (1902-2001) and Edward Newman James (1901-1982)

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Updated: December 25, 2023