Paul Edward James

JAMES A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Paul Edward James, age 66, will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Grand Coteau. Mr. James was called home to the Lord on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at Denton Regional Hospital in Denton, TX. Interment will be in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Cemetery in Grand Coteau. Rev. William Ruskoski, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne, will be principal celebrant. Concelebrants include: Rev. Aaron Melancon, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Cecilia, Rev. Frank Candalisa, pastor of St. Christopher Catholic Church in Metairie, Rev. James Lambert, S.J., pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Grand Coteau, Rev. Joseph McGill, S.J., of Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House, Rev. Keenan Brown, pastor of St. Francis Regis Catholic Church in Arnaudville, and Rev. Thomas Voorhies, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Eunice. Assisting for the liturgy will be Deacon Samuel P. Henry. Ashley Milanese, Elizabeth Barriere, and André Courville will render the liturgical music selections. Rendell James will also provide some of the liturgical music selections for his father's Mass of Christian Burial. The pieces include: "Ave Maria" [Frank Schubert], "You Are Mine", "Shepherd Me, O God", "Jesus, You're the Center of My Joy", "His Eye is on the Sparrow", "God Has Smiled on Me", "Saints of God", and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". Mr. James was a graduate of George Washington Carver High School. He then pursued and earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the former Grambling College, now Grambling State University in 1965. He also earned continuing education credit hours at U.S.L., now known as U.L.L. At Grambling, he met and married the late Joyce Jones James of Montz, LA. Their union yielded two sons, Roderick Adrian and Rendell Anthony, to carry on their legacy. He provided a total of 33 years to the profession of special education. He gave 28 years of service to the St. Landry Parish Public School System, having taught at Sunset Elementary and Sunset High School, Pupil Appraisal Center in Opelousas, and Arnaudville Elementary. He rendered his final 5 years of teaching in the Lafayette Parish Public School System at Acadian Middle School. Paul was a diligent provider for his family. He was also a former employee of Evangeline Downs Racetrack with 30 years of service. Paul also worked in the multi-parish JTPA summer program, the Lafayette Consolidated Government Summer Program, Lafayette Juvenile Detention Center, and was a merchant of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly sweet potatoes. Survivors include two sons, Roderick Adrian and Rendell Anthony; grandson, Brennan Hull; mother, Hazel S. James; brothers, Cornelius James and John Patrick James; sisters, Helen J. Henry and Margaret Baker; sisters-in-law, Artis Smith and Stephanie Brown; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Joyce Jones James; his father, Clarence James; his brothers, Joseph Martin James, Frank James, and Sydney James; his sister, Odile James; his grandparents, Joseph Stewart and the former Estelle Eaglin; his uncles, and aunts, William Murphy Stewart, Lorena Stewart, Mary Edwardina Buggs, Thomas Michael Stewart, Vivian Mason and Mary Edna Stewart. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Friday in the funeral home by Deacon Herd Guilbeau. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will continue on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until time of service. Roderick and Rendell wish to express their sincere gratitude to all of the nurses, physicians, and medical personnel in Louisiana and Texas who provided medical attention to Mr. James during his illness. Although they are unable to be present for the funeral liturgy, gratitude is offered to the Most Rev. Harry J. Flynn, D.D., Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, J.C.D., D.D., Bishop of Fort Worth, and Very Rev. Msgr. Russell J. Harrington, VE, Chancellor for the Diocese of Lafayette and pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Mire for their telephone calls, prayers, and Mass offerings. Pallbearers will be Scott Crawford, Ronald Francis, Herb Lamb, Joseph Lemelle, Gregory Lewis, Lionel Lewis, Clyde Shaw, and Martin Victor. Honorary pallbearers will be George Babineaux, Eddie Guidry, Dedrick "Tweed" Manuel, Edward Miniex, L.G. Richard, John "Toddie" Clark, and Demetrius Faul. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.melanconfuneralhome.net. Melancon Funeral Home of Grand Coteau, 289 Church Street, (337) 662-7286, is in charge of arrangements.