James Harbor

Kernersville - James Harbor, 89, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at Trinity Glen Nursing Home in Winston Salem, North Carolina. James was born on November 19, 1926 in Itawambia County, Mississippi to Marvin Otis and Myrtle Effie Canon Harbor. At the age of 18, James joined the U.S. Navy and served almost two years as a watchman on the U.S.S. Columbus battleship in the Asia Pacific and Pearl Harbor until the end of the war in 1945.

James is survived by Esther Ruth Chatham Harbor, his wife of 65 years and resident of Kernersville; a daughter, Carolyn Ruth Horne, married to Dan Horne of Durham; a son, Timothy James Harbor, married to Karen Harbor of Winston Salem; three grandsons: Ben Harbor, married to Danielle Harbor; Nate Horne, married to Joni Horne; and Jerod Harbor, married to Dana Harbor; seven great grandchildren: Alyssa, Ashlynn, and Brayden Harbor; Zachary and Jonathan Horne; and Jude and James Harbor; and James's eldest sister, Ruby Faye Harbor Smith, and her son and wife, Jim and Cheryl Smith, and their sons, Brandon and Jason Smith, all of Winthrop Harbor and Lindenhurst, Illinois. James was preceded in death by two infant brothers and his other older sister, Ola Harbor Crittenden, of Cleveland, Tennessee.

After returning to Mississippi from service with the Navy, James moved with his family to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he trained to become a welder and worked for Simmons Manufacturing Company. He then completed pastoral training with The Bible Training Institute in Cleveland, Tennessee for the Church of God of Prophecy over three summers. James served as pastor of several churches for over 37 years in the following in order: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Sturgis, South Dakota; Beloit, Wisconsin; Aurora, Colorado; Rapid City, South Dakota; Tucson, Arizona; Des Moines, Iowa; Eden, North Carolina; Stedman, North Carolina; and Greensboro, North Carolina.

While in South Dakota, James also ministered to members of the Native American Sioux Indian community who lived on the Ogala Pine Ridge Reservation. He loved his work with various groups and communities in each location and church. After retirement, James and Esther lived in Cleveland, Tennessee to help his sister, Ola. There he served with the Bradley County Sheriff's Department and his friend, Rev. Ray Wynn, as a ""deputized"" home visitor for shut-ins and the elderly. In 2004, James and Esther returned to North Carolina in order to be near to their two children and families. A special ""lifetime"" friend was Clovis Tyra, of Itawambia County, Mississippi. As a WWII veteran, James was honored to participate in the Piedmont Triad Flight of Honor to Washington, D.C. in 2010. Later, James was diagnosed with dementia and became a resident at Walnut Ridge Assisted Living, Walnut Cove, North Carolina, and Trinity Glen Nursing Home, Winston Salem. In his final years in the home, James attended nearby Triad Baptist Church as he was able with Esther in Kernersville.

A funeral service will be held in the chapel at Triad Baptist Church in Kernersville on Monday, June 20, 2016, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Rob Decker officiating. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Gardens of Memory in Kernersville. The family will receive friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Hayworth Miller Kernersville Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences may be directed to: www.hayworth-miller.com

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