James Reynold Cannon

The Rev. James Reynold Cannon, 83, lately of Travelers Rest, SC, passed away at his home on May 6, 2023, after entering hospice care in January. Jim, as he was known to family and friends, was born on March 27, 1940, in Wilmington, NC to the Rev. Abram Cannon and Magalene Burney Cannon of Wilmington.

Jim left school in ninth grade to enter the workforce and went on to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1959 before receiving a medical discharge. He earned his GED while in the military, and later went on to attend Bob Jones University from 1971 to 1976, where he studied to enter the ministry.

In 1959, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Marion Dale Millinor Cannon and went on to have three children: Amelia, who is married to Pastor William Harper; Michael, who married the former Sheila Smith; and Gregory, who is married to the former Susie Roper.

He later married Dorothy Dorman in 1989 and two adult children were added to his family: David, who was married to his wife Bobbi Jo, and Trisha, who is married to Cary Alexander.

Jim worked mainly in sales before entering the ministry at the age of 36. He then became the pastor of Summit View Baptist Church in Greenville in 1976. He served as pastor of that congregation for seven years. He later became the director of the Greenville Rescue Mission, where he served from 1983 to 1986.

In 1990, after his marriage to Dot Cannon, Jim began a new ministry in Greenville called LifeSearch. This ministry worked mainly with homeless men who wanted to seek a new life in Christ and regain a place in the workforce and the community. As an outgrowth of the ministry, Jim began Faith Bible Fellowship church and the Academy of Life in Greenville. In 1998 he also founded KingsPointe Academy, a low-cost Christian school designed to offer an affordable Christian educational option to the families to which he ministered. That school continues to operate as part of the ministry of Bethel Calvary Baptist Church in Taylors.

In 2001, his ministries then moved to Travelers Rest where he also founded KingsPointe Industries to provide jobs for those who participated in the Academy of Life. He retired in 2021 at the age of 81.

Jim's love of God and service to his fellow man were hallmarks of his life and are legacies he sought to pass down to all his family.

Jim was predeceased by his father, Abram Cannon; his mother, Magalene Cannon Downing; his brothers, Kenny, Charles, and Bob; his former wife, Marion Dale Cannon; and his stepson, David Dorman. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Cannon of Travelers Rest; his sisters, Carolyn Fowler of Benson, NC, Margaret "Mug" Anderson of Belville, NC, and Betty Coleman of Wilmington, NC; his daughter, Amelia Harper of Nashville, NC; his sons, Mike Cannon and Greg Cannon of Anderson, SC; his stepdaughter, Trisha Alexander of Greenville, SC; his grandchildren, Jonathan Harper (wife, Jennifer), Bradley Harper, Nicholas Dorman (wife Nickole), Ian Dorman, Alan Jacob Alexander and Lucas Alexander of Greenville, SC; Thomas Harper of Tallahasee, Florida; Andrew Harper of Lacey, WA; Keren Harper Turgeon (husband, Lane) of Andover, KS; Michael Von Cannon (wife Jordan) of Fort Myers, FL; Debra Prongue (husband Matt) and Ariel Sisler (husband Anthony) of Anderson, SC; Brandon Cannon (wife Megan) of Sacramento, CA; Brianna Walsh (husband Eric) of Atlanta, GA; Joshua Dorman (wife Chrissy) of West Virginia; Nathaniel Alexander (wife Sarah) of North Carolina and 14 great-grandkids: Evangeline Harper; Wally and Freddie Von Cannon; Matthew and Greyson Prongue; Mackenzie Jennings; Julian and Layla Sisler; Robin Dale Cannon, and Sarah, Stephanie, Daniel, Carter and Cooper Dorman. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and their descendents.

A visitation with the family will be held at Bethel Calvary Baptist Church at 11 Easy Street in Taylors, SC at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11 with a memorial service to follow at 5:30 p.m. The church will provide a meal after the service.

Jim will be laid to rest at 1 p.m. Friday, May 12 in a family plot in the New Hollywood Cemetery in Lumberton, NC. Anyone is welcome to attend either service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to KingsPointe Academy in care of Bethel Calvary Baptist Church, 11 Easy Street in Taylors. Donations may be made online at www.bethelcalvary.com .

The family wishes to thank Interim Healthcare of the Upstate for their excellent hospice care during Jim's final months.