written by Gabriella
Although I never knew him I remember reading on the Home bulletin board about James graduation while I was in Cincinatti. Here is what it said:
Dear James had backslidden more than once. And although he found Family life difficult, he kept returning to serve the Lord with us. When he came back the last time, he was walking down the road playing his guitar leading several sheep who then joined with him. A few days later, a brother said that he heard James in the shower. He was crying and asking the Lord to deliver him. He was having a hard time battling. Then, later on while he was witnessing the Lord did deliver him as he was killed while out witnessing.
Not very long after James died, a woman that he had witnessed to, asked the Lord to give her a sign that He was real. Suddenly, up in the clouds, there was James, hopping from cloud to cloud and playing his guitar. She afterwards came to the home and told them this story.
written by Gideon Newheart(Gibea) I first met James when I was a babe in Detroit, Michigan. He made a big impression on me because he was so very sweet and humble. He was always memorizing or reviewing and was faithful to share his verses with me. He had a really tender heart for souls and was a great witnessing partner.
It’s true that he had his weaknesses and there were several times when he left the work only to come back a few months later with several new disciples. After returning one time he changed his name to James 4:4 (Love not the world...)
He was often discouraged with himself and would often ask for prayer to be a better sample. One day while with a witnessing team in a park he joined everyone as they were gathering back together. He was sharing his verse for the day with another brother, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Almost immediately afterwards a crazed man someone had witnessed to earlier in the day jumped into the group and attacked James stabbing him with a knife killing him. Several brothers restrained the man until the police arrived. The man had a history of mental illness and violence and was later sentenced to prison.
This took place in the East Coast somewhere. I believe Kenaz of Hodiah was the home shepherd at the time.
There is a picture of James in the Book of Remembrance, volume 2, page 282. He is in the back row third from the right with the Detroit pioneer team.
