Willie Mae James

Willie Mae was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on April 13, 1924, to Arthur Walls and Darthula Hicks (both deceased). She grew up on a farm with the chickens, cows, and pigs. There were fresh fruit trees that got her in trouble sometimes. She attended school for a while but was not able to complete her education. She had to go to the fields and pick cotton. She said she did not like that idea, so she left home at 14. She said, "No more cotton picking for me". She did domestic work, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. She loved the Lord and led her children to follow Christ. She left Mississippi and moved North to Chicago, Illinois. She met and married Robert James.

She had nine children in their Union. Janice Hamilton, Jennifer Page, Jacqueline James Brown, Glen James, Joyce K. James, Kirk D. James, and Mark (Dawn) E.James.

She was preceded in death by her parents, children, Robert DavidJr., and Greg James, her siblings, Jessie, George , Solan, and Barbara.

She started a new journey a month before her 100th birthday, moving into a nursing home. There she met many friends and touched a lot of lives. She danced and sang with the staff at night, starting to party on Thursday, and then slept Saturday and Sunday. They miss her as well.

She silently departed this life on Friday, November 14, 2025, leaving twenty-eight grandchildren, fifty-two great-grandchildren, along other family members and friends.