James Gonzales

James “Jim” E. Gonzales, husband of Barbara Johnson Gonzales, of North Charleston, SC passed away Thursday July 13, 2017. Funeral Services will be Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Carolina Memorial Chapel, 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC. The family will receive friends at Carolina Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Jim was born on August 28, 1933 in Laurel, Mississippi, son of the late Joseph Palmer Gonzales and Cora Ella Hickman Gonzales. After graduation from Chicora High School, he attended the College of Charleston, and the University of South Carolina Law School.

Jim was dedicated to the City of North Charleston and its people. He was the architect of the legal strategy and spearheaded the legal battle for the creation of the City in 1972. The successful Supreme Court opinion allowing for its incorporation was one of his proudest moments. As stated by Harvey M. Spar of Charleston in the Post and Courier on July 10, 2015, “His hard work, dedication and astute legal guidance was truly the cornerstone of the establishment of the City of North Charleston and its eventual success. It could not have been accomplished without the contributions of the then young lawyer, Jim Gonzales.” Jim served as city attorney for the City of North Charleston until 1994, and then returned to private law practice. During that period Jim was also elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1980 and served until 1982.

Surviving are his wife Barbara Johnson Gonzales, 2 sons Stephen E. Gonzales and his wife Donna Kinard Gonzales of North Charleston, SC and Michael E. Gonzales and his wife Lynda Grossman of Summerville, SC; 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.