James Edward Nave

James Edward Nave was born on November 1, 1945 in Memphis, Tennessee, the only child born to Annie Bell Smith Nave and James M. Nave. On Sunday, June 1, 2025, he passed after a long illness at St. Francis Hospital, transitioning from his earthly home to eternal rest. He was 79. James loved life and faced most challenges head on. The challenges were varied and many. He touched many lives as a husband, father, son, brother-in-law, deacon, engineer, friend, athlete and musician, but most of all, he was God's child. As a youngster, James grew up in the Binghamton Community. His paternal grandfather, Edward Nave of the Oklahoma Territory, was a Methodist minister. His maternal grandfather, Henry Franklin Smith was founder and pastor of the Tyler AME Church in 1905, so James being an integral part of the church community was expected and required. He professed a hope in Christ and joined his grandfather's church and participated in youth oriented activities such as ACE Fellowship, Sunday School, Youth Missionary and choir. By the time, he entered Lester High School, James had developed a sound work ethic and worked as a bus boy and golf caddie at Memphis Country Club. Meeting celebrities such as actor George Hamilton and opera singer Marguerite Piazza was a routine occurrence. A star running back for the football team and a good student, James was also a member of the band at Lester, playing saxophone and a member of the staff of the school newspaper, The Lesterite. After graduating from high school in 1963, he was awarded a football scholarship to Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina, but was injured during his first year, playing football and returned to Memphis. After returning home, his work ethic took over and he began working for Colonial Bread Company as a delivery driver. As fate would have it, he met the love of his life, his wife, Regenia at her house in the Klondike Community. But James's charm or determination took over and the two started dating. After dating a year, the couple married in 1969, and to the union two daughters were born. The couple has been married for 55 years. Once James and Regenia married, James went back to college. With James's mother, Annie, being a schoolteacher, his curiosity for learning was second nature and getting an education was readily encouraged. After receiving his first Associate's Degree in chemical engineering from then State Technical Institute, he was employed by Humko, a company making edible vegetable oils and shortening. In addition, early in his marriage, he worked as a traveling salesman for Bausch and Lomb Eye Care Company. To send a flower arrangement in memory of James Edward Nave, please click here to visit our sympathy store.