James Chalmers Marrow Jr.

James Chalmers "Jim" Marrow, Jr., died peacefully at his home in Tarboro, North Carolina, on July 3, 2024, after a long illness.
Born to Lucy Jane Gregory and James Chalmers Marrow on July 11, 1947, he graduated from The McCallie School in 1965, received his BA from Davidson College in 1969, and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1972. He then returned to Tarboro to practice law with Herbert Taylor, Creighton Brinson and Bill Aycock. Later he opened a private office in downtown Tarboro, where he continued to enjoy practicing law through his final days.
Jim met his wife, Mary Wilder "Molly" Owen while in law school, and they married on December 27, 1975. They welcomed two children, Helen Beckler in 1977, and Owen Chalmers in 1980. Equally welcomed and treasured have been their four grandchildren Johnny, George, Virginia and James. Called both GrandJim and Pop Pop, Jim relished every opportunity to spoil them and leave the regulations to their parents.
Jim's life was marked by his dedication to family, church and community, and a willingness to contribute to those around him. He was a lifelong member of Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, serving in many capacities over the years, from elder to church committee member to behind-the-scenes contributor on church activities and projects. For more than forty years he served as the board appointed attorney for Tarboro Savings Bank. His long list of community service included work for the Edgecombe Charitable Foundation, the Edgecombe Memorial Library, the Furman Matthewson Trust, the Community Medicine Foundation, V.O.I.C.E., and the Edgecombe Community College Auditorium and Mobley Atrium. Jim enthusiastically supported Tarboro's downtown businesses, restaurants and special activities, at one point becoming the owner of a pub on East Church Street he named The Underground, after London's subway systems.
Jim's interests were numerous and eclectic. He was a lifelong sports enthusiast, especially for soccer, baseball, and sailing. After returning home he helped to start and for many years coached with Tarboro's peewee soccer program, and he could be periodically spotted in regional baseball stadiums, where he kept close track of local athletes over the years as they grew up. He spent as much free time as possible at the cabin his parents built on the Pamlico River, whether sharing it with his family and friends or spending time alone on the porch. An avid sailor since childhood, at different points he also embraced kayaking, hiking, kite flying, bird watching, even bat watching, fine food, fine wine, and craft beers. He liked listening to the opera as well as bluegrass, vintage country and big band music; he regularly stayed up late watching old movies and even older TV shows, and his book choices ranged from poetry collections to Russian novels, criminal mysteries, and US military, Chinese and Edgecombe County history. Boredom was never a problem for Jim, whether his days were quiet or busy. Ever the optimist and known for his sense of humor and dry wit, he enjoyed his life to the fullest, a life that will be greatly missed both by his family and by the many people who shared it with him.
Jim is survived by his wife Molly, his daughter Helen Marrow (husband Michael Redd), his son Owen Marrow, his grandchildren, Johnny O'Briant and George, Virginia and James Redd, his brother Henry Marrow and his sister Harriet Marrow Neldon.
A Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 3 PM at the Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, 303 East St James Street, Tarboro, NC. Following the service the family will have a reception in the Burns Fellowship Hall greeting friends and family.
The family will be holding a private interment service.
The Marrow family would like to thank Sharon Dickens and her team at ECU Home Health & Hospice Services, and to share our deep gratitude for the many family members and friends who provided us with comfort and support and shared this journey with us.
In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Jim's memory may be made to either the Edgecombe Charitable Foundation, c/o North Carolina Community Foundation, 3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 460, Raleigh, NC 27612, also via https://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/affiliate/edgecombe-charitable-foundation or to Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, 303 East Saint James Street, Tarboro, NC, 27886, also via https://www.howardmemorial.org/give.
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