Camella Anne James

Mrs. Camella Anne Polite James of Houston passed away peacefully, in the embrace of her three daughters, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, after a 92-year beautiful life.
Born on March 9, 1933 in Port Arthur, Texas, Camella is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 66 years, Alvin King "Jolly" James; her beloved parents, Mr. Frank Polite and Mrs. Margaret Aquilina Polite Bush of Port Arthur; her sister, Mrs. Grace Elaine Cuilla; and son-in-law, Dr. Dan Richard Jones.
Camella is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Alison James Hall and her husband, Mr. Donald Fletcher Hall III of Sugar Land, Texas, and their daughter, Ms. Hollan Anne Hall of Houston; daughter, Ms. Jalinna James Jones of Marble Falls, Texas and Mr. Joe McCracken of Commerce, Texas, and her daughter, Ms. Aislinn Anne Jones of Austin, Texas; daughter, Ms. Alissa Anne James of Houston; brother, Calvin "Junior" Bush of Nederland, Texas and his wife Mrs. Brenda Bush; and nephew, Mr. Bryan Jude Daigle of Abilene, Texas. She will be greatly missed by numerous family members, cherished friends, and neighbors.
She is a graduate of Port Arthur's Thomas Jefferson High School and Lamar State College – Port Arthur, as it is now known.
On one fateful night in 1954 Camella met her future husband at the world-famous Pat O'Briens in New Orleans, when each was on vacation with friends. The next year, Jolly hitch-hiked from his family farm in North Carolina to Texas, to marry his soul mate and life partner in 1956. Soon thereafter, he graduated from Baylor University School of Law in Waco, Texas, and she became a proud member of the Baylor Jurist Wives Club.
After moving to Houston, Camella became an esteemed Administrative Assistant to top executives at Pool Services, at the time one of the largest well servicing firms in the United States, and later at Enserch Corporation.
Her greatest accomplishment, however, was as a loving mother to her three daughters, rearing them with her traditional Italian values and ideals. She was active in the Neo Debs, a ladies service and social club, part of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Greater Houston. Equally as active at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church parish, Camella served as president of the Catholic Women's Organization and as a Eucharistic Minister. For more than forty years, she enjoyed the same bridge club with dear friends she met in the Sharpstown neighborhood.
Camella loved exploring resale shops for bargains on sparkly jackets, planting pansies, and Asian-inspired décor. She was the epitome of grace, with a warm kindness extended to all, and a personal style that was runway ready. Perhaps her most cherished joy was being a beloved "Grammie" to her two precious granddaughters (and all their friends), and celebrating family at her happy place, the beach.
After receiving her final sacrament, Camella has requested no funeral service, but will be forever remembered in perpetual mass.
For those who wish to honor Camella, donations may be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church at www.sfds-houston.org; Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church at Holy Family Parish at www.holyfamilygb.com; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.