James Minor Sr.

James Minor, Sr.

Oxford

James Douglas Minor, Sr. passed Monday, October 17, 2011 after a sudden illness.

Born March 6, 1947 to the late Samuel D. Minor, Sr. and Loma Cox Minor in Coldwater, MS, he graduated Tate County High School as Valedictorian of his class in 1966. He attended the University of Mississippi during the early days of the school's integration, earning his bachelor's degree in political science in 1969 and his Juris Doctorate in 1972.

James had a long and varied career in law and education. In 1974 he joined the University of Mississippi Law School as the Assistant Project Director of the Criminal Justice Research Service, a legal research resource for judges and lawyers throughout the state at a time when full service law libraries were rare. He became director of the Service in 1975. While at Ole Miss he represented Leroy Frazier in the landmark case Frazier v. Callicutt, in which he joined with the United States Department of Justice in successfully overcoming Marshall County's refusal to accept the voter registration applications of black students at Rust College and Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He also coordinated the CLEO program at Ole Miss, an organization committed to diversifying the legal profession by expanding legal education opportunities to minority, low-income and disadvantaged groups, and taught at Mercer University. In 1978 he became Assistant to the Dean & Assistant Professor of Law at Ole Miss, where he taught until 1984. In addition to a longstanding private practice, he served as Board Attorney for the North Panola School District, worked as city attorney for Crenshaw and Coldwater, Mississippi, and taught courses at Rust College. He also co-wrote a book entitled Legal Aspects of Health Care Reimbursement with Robert J. Buchanan, first published in 1985. Vital until the end, James was an active member in his community and church, serving on the Mt. Calm Deacon Board for 38 years, in addition to various boards and organizations.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 44 years, Ardessa Hill Minor; son - James Douglas Minor, Jr.; daughters - Jessica Minor Ruffin (John), and Joscelyne Dalila Minor; three grandchildren - Johnny Lee Ruffin, III, James Douglas Minor, III, and Jennifer Reece Ruffin; five sisters - Claudia Knight (Elvin), Margie Watkins (Richard), Alma Walker (Earnest), Frenchye Webster, and Eugenia Minor; three brothers - Samuel D. Minor, Jr., Reverend Gerald Minor, Sr. (Christine), and Reverend Doctor Michael O. Minor (Lottie); one sister-in-law - Annie Ruth Hilliard; one brother-in-law - Darius Edward Hill; an aunt, Leslie V. Smith; and a host of loving nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends.

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 21 at Second Baptist Church, 611 Jackson Ave., Oxford, MS 38655. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22 at Mt. Calm Missionary Baptist Church, 4923 Arkabutla Rd, Coldwater, MS 38618 with viewing one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that tax-deductible donations be directed to the Samuel D Minor, Sr. Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 267, Coldwater, MS 38618. Hodges-Freeman Funeral Home (662) 236-0004.