James Woffard Rochester

James, Jim, Jimmy, JW, Dad, Grandpa Jim, or Pastor Jim. However you knew James Woffard Rochester, you couldn’t help but see and respect his love for the Lord. On October 29, 2023, he slipped quietly and peacefully to sleep until he will be called up at Jesus’ soon return.  Jim was born to Wofford Columbus Rochester and Rebecca Holden Rochester on August 2, 1944, in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Jim met his wife of 59 years, Phyllis Woosley Rochester, while attending Southwest High School in Forsyth County, North Carolina and graduating in 1962.  He attended college at Clemson University prior to transferring to UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and graduating with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1969.  Jim and Phyllis were married in 1964.  After graduation, he began his career as a salesperson and terminal manager for McLean Trucking Company.  In his mid-thirties, Jim responded to the call of his life’s work by dedicating his life to the Lord’s service.  In 1978, Jim attended Southern College, now Southern Adventist University, to pursue studies in theology.  Shortly thereafter, he went to work in the Carolina Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  In the 1990s, Jim obtained his Masters of Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University.  He pastored in various churches throughout North and South Carolina for 28 years. Jim is survived by his wife, Phyllis Woosley Rochester. They were blessed with four children: Lisa Wall Rochester; Eric (Jackie) Rochester of Charlottesville, Virginia; Jamie (Kurt) Schneider of Fletcher, North Carolina; and Daniel (Natalie) Rochester of Belews Creek, North Carolina. He loved his grandchildren: Emily and Anna Schneider, Melina and Micah Rochester, Caroline and Carleigh Rochester. He is also survived by his brother Joe Rochester (Nell) of St. Matthews, South Carolina; his brother-in-law Wayne (Riley) Woosley of Pfafftown, North Carolina and his sister-in-law Sharon (Sam) Solomon of Gatesville, North Carolina; nieces and a nephew of North Carolina, South Carolina and England.   He is also survived by many cherished family, friends and congregants that he touched throughout his life. Jim was preceded in death by his father in 1968; his daughter, Lisa Wall Rochester, in 1969; his mother in 2004; and his sister-in-law, Nell Lockman Rochester, in 2007. A memorial service will be held at the Winston Salem First Seventh-day Adventist Church at 4545 Country Club Road, Winston Salem, NC. The service will be held on Sunday, November 12 at 2 PM in the afternoon. His remains will be interred with family present at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to the SDA Church Global Missions (https://gm.adventistmission.org), Adventist World Radio (https://awr.org/) or Adventist Development and Relief Agency (https://www.adra.org).