Rev. James Edward Proffitt

PROFFITT, Rev. James Edward, of Powhatan, Va., went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 8, 2008, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Webb Proffitt of Powhatan; and three children, Jamie Pittman of Chesapeake, Va., and her husband, Michael Pittman, Joy Proffitt of Chesterfield, Va., and Jeffrey Proffitt of McKenney, Va. Rev. Proffitt also leaves behind to cherish many wonderful memories four grandchildren, Jennifer Cabaniss and her husband, Joshua Cabaniss, of Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Benjamin Cramer of Fredericksburg, Va., and Sarah and Isaac Cramer of Chesapeake, Va.; as well as a great-grandson, Jaden Cabaniss; brothers, Herbert and Branch Proffitt; sisters, Evelyn Purcell and Helen Ayers and their families. "Jim" started in business as a special agent for the C&O Railway Company. He joined the State Farm Insurance Company in 1964 as an insurance agent, and built a successful career in the Richmond metropolitan area. He consistently earned recognition as a Legion of Honor Agent, won the National Quality Award, and gained the prestigious LUTC license. Jim retired from State Farm after 33 years in the business. Jim earned his B.S. in Business in 1963 from the Richmond Professional Institute School of Business, now known as Virginia Commonwealth University. He received his M.A. in Christian Education in 1976 from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, also known as Union Theological Seminary. A very patriotic American, Jim served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict as a dental technician. He served his God as a layman in local churches all his life, and was ordained into the ministry at Bethany Place Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., in 1981, as he sought to be more fully equipped in his ministry work. He then served as Minister of Education and Administration at Webber Memorial Baptist Church from 1981 to 1992. He continued working in local churches in discipleship and church planting until he was called to Kingsland Baptist Church as the Minister of Education and Outreach, where he served from 1995 to 2003. Never one to retire from the Lord's work, Jim accepted yet another post as the interim pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church of Powhatan for six months, and then accepted the position of senior pastor. "Pastor Jim", as he was so fondly called, resigned from the ministry only last year at the age of 75, when his illness made it too difficult for him to complete his duties. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:7. His family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bliley's-Chippenham, 6900 Hull Street Rd. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Kingsland Baptist Church, 8801 Perrymont Ave., Richmond. Interment Westhampton Memorial Park.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.