James Chance, Jr.

James Chance Jr passed away on March 3rd, 2023, at the age of 89. He was born on March 4th, 1933 in Knoxville, TN to James and Estelle Chance. James was the third of 12 children. He is proceeded in death by parents James & Estella Chance Sr., his wife, Martha Marie Chance (McLeroy), his brother Albert Chance, and his sisters Lula Sanders and Velma Holland, his sons Lamar Chance and Dennis Chance, daughter Victoria Chance-Robinson, and granddaughter JaNa’ Choe (Grant). James is survived by sisters, Ollie Mae Snapp, Elizabeth Pearson, Anne Gerald, Arlene Frierson, Erlene Evans, Lena Chance and his brothers Fred Chance and Richard Chance, his daughters Bobbi Grant (Art), Constance Board,
and Pamela Chance. His grandchildren Reba Wiley, Tameka Wiley (Lamar), Lamar Wiley, Antoinette Wiley, Rashawn Wiley, Adrianne Chance, Alex Robinson (Ciara), Mario Board (Christina), Branden Stewart, Brian Chance and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
James had a wonderful childhood in Kentucky. He always played the big brother role to his many younger siblings and his nickname was ‘June’. After finishing high school in Jenkins, KY he went on to attend Kentucky State University on a football scholarship. Soon after leaving Kentucky State, he met and married Martha McLeroy on December 21, 1953. They were very young when they got married, as he was 19 and she was 17. And the two went on to have 6 beautiful children and celebrate 64 years together.
James at one time worked two full time jobs, one of which was at General Electric where he spent over 20 years. He also worked for the Cleveland Board of Education and ultimately retired from there after 44 years of service. He loved his job and his role as the Grievance Officer for the union. The last school he worked at prior to retiring was John Hay High School. James was very physically fit, and this allowed him to walk the many floors of that massive high school on a day basis. He retired at the age of 80, which I'm sure that’s no surprise to those that knew him well. He had a dry sense of humor, and he enjoyed going to brunch with his former co-workers. One of his first loves was fishing and one of many hobbies was taking flying lessons and looking at the stars with his multiple telescopes. He always loved a good meal and enjoyed his Orange Roughy and trout fish fry's!
In 2018 James was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dementia and fought the disease for four long years. His stubbornness allowed him to sustain himself when times got difficult. From November 2022 to March 2023 his Alzheimer's and spinal cord compression took its toll on his body. He lost his fight on March 3, 2023 (just 6 hours shy of his 90th birthday). He lived an exceptional and amazing life. He will be sourly missed by his family and friends, but they are grateful to have had him in their life.