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This obituary is from the Birmingham News of 12 Aug 2010.
JAMES, KENNETH MORRIS "COACH", 62, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday, August 7, 2010, at his home in Pinson, Alabama, with family and close personal friends by his side. He fought a long and enduring battle with prostate and bone cancer for over 8 years, and we are all thankful that he is now with our Lord and Savior, no longer in pain or suffering. He is survived by his loving wife, and best friend, Debra; his daughter Kimberly; his son Michael and wife Christie, their two children, Marley, 2, and Fischer, 7 weeks; his parents Bob and Beulah James; brother Bobby James and wife Jaye; his mother-in-law, Flossie Haigler; brother-in-law, Chris Haigler, wife Debbie, children Alecia and Gabrielle; as well as his close Alabama Football Brotherhood and many friends that he gained throughout his lifetime. Ken was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on March 22, 1948. His father was in the military and after many moves was finally stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA. There Ken attended Baker High school and excelled in multiple sports. He was awarded a football scholarship to The University of Alabama and played for the great Paul W. "Bear" Bryant. After graduating from college he began teaching physical education, health and coaching at Baker HS, Pleasant Grove HS, Pinson Valley HS and finally at Erwin HS where he would spend the rest of his career until his retirement in 2004. Ken served as President of the Alabama "A" Club, Alabama JCI Senate, and was an active member of the Bama Brigade and United States JCI Senate. Visitation will be Thursday, August 12, 2010, from 5:00-8:00pm at the Ridout's Trussville Chapel. Church service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Trussville Friday, August 13th, 2010 at 2:00pm, with burial to follow at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following: The Alabama "A" Club Educational and Charitable FDN, P.O. Drawer 1961, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-1961; The United States JCI Senate FDN, 4918 S 24th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85041-2958; First United Methodist Church of Trussville, 120 N Chalkville Road, Trussville, AL 35173.
This obituary is from the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer of 12 Aug 2010.
Kenneth Morris James August 7, 2010 PINSON, AL — Kenneth Morris James, 62, of Pinson, AL passed away peacefully Saturday, August 7, 2010 at his home with family and close friends by his side. He is survived by his wife, Debra, daughter, Kimberly James of Alpharetta, GA; son Michael and Christie James, grandchildren Marley and Fischer James of Marietta, GA; parents Robert and Beulah James of Columbus,GA; and brother Robert and Jaye James of Phoenix, MD. Service will be held Friday, August 13, 2010 at 2:00pm, Trussville United Methodist Church, Trussville, AL. Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday August 12, 2010 from 5-8pm, Ridout's TrussVille Chapel, Trussville, AL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harvest Faith Community Church, Columbus, GA.
We have LION FORUMS on our LIONSPRIDE website where Baker Lions love to share life's memories and day-to-day events, discoveries, etc.... Please see below for all the responses/memories shared after Baker Lions sadly heard of Ken James' passing.....
1. Sid Welch, Class of '67:
I have confirmed that Mr. Ken James, Baker Class of 1967 passed away Saturday, August 7th at 7:30PM after a long battle with Cancer. Ken fought long and hard. Those are the only details that I have at this time. Please keep Ken and his family in your prayers. Thank you.
2. Patricia Ann Jones Davenport, Class of '68:
Sid...Thanks for posting about Ken James. He is another of our Lions that fought bravely in the battle against cancer. My prayers go up for his family.
This is Spring Fling 2009. Good night Lions!
3. Rodney Wolfinger, Class of '69:
KEN JAMES was a hero and idol to me...You could just tell how much pride KEN had everytime he put on any athletic uniform that had the name BAKER on it... He was a walking definition of a BAKER LION...and I will never forget the way he would treat a lowly underclassman..even though he had earned the right to be a BMOC,
that just wasnt KEN's style, he always made time for you and he always treated you with respect and as fellow BUM....I will cherish the time and memories I had with him at the last Get-Together he came to... Even though he was in no shape to be traveling, he said he was gonna be at that event no matter how he had to get there...
Just getting to see him again and getting the opportunity to talk with him awhile was worth more than anything to me...I'll never forget him saying to me... "Well damn Wolfie, aint you ever gonna grow up"....i laugh and cry every time i think about him sayin that... I cry now cause we have lost a true hero of mine....
4. Henry Holmes, Class of '70:
When I entered my freshman year at Baker, Ken James was a god! Every kid wanted to be just like Ken James. Wanted the same kind of jacket (Blue London Fog, Penny loafers). Wanted to be good at sports, wanted to be admired for being such a great person. Ken James then, and now represents who we are. This is a very sad day. Farewell to a true Lion.
5. Benny Brock, Class of '68:
Ken James and I were team mates on basketball teams most of the time we were at Baker. He always played hard and tough. He helped make each of us a better player with his work ethic and down to earth actions. I am proud to have played with and against Ken. I remember talking with Ken at the 20 year reunion and we talked about when our team won the Shaw Invitational Christmas tournament. I wondered why the trophy was never in the case at Baker. Ken said he didn't know but he remembered he had the trophy after it was presented and left with it but did not know what happened to it. Yeah right Ken. I am proud to be able to call you friend and team mate. May you rest in peace and thoughts and prayers are sent to your family.
6. Rodney Wolfinger, Class of '69:
BENNY...i remember one time while us little guys were watching you varsity guys practice and you was just wearing Ken out...lol...yall were running the "Bubba Ball Shuffle" half court 5 on 5 and every time you got that pass on the wing you swished one over Ken....me and Mike Chickini and Dale Emerson was sitting on the bleachers when yall had a little break and Ken James says to Ken Emerson..."You guard Brock, he is making me look like a fool in front of Coach Ball"...lol....Emerson told James to just keep pushing you out further from the basket...well i remember when yall started again Ken started leaning on you real good and pushing you further and further out...you, being your normal complaining self...lol...was hollering and screaming about James pushing you and Coach Ball just hollered.."BROCK!!, shut up and play!"...lol....welp, the very next time yall ran the offense, James had pushed you out about 30 feet or so but you got the pass and swished one over him again...and you just stood their with your right hand still up in the air and gave him that little crooked smile of yours...lol...James threw his hands up and said.."BROCK, if we didnt need you so bad I would kill you!!".....this went on and on almost the whole practice and at one point Coach Ball hollers at James.."JAMES!! are you gonna play defense anytime today"...James just shrugged his shoulders and says..."Well, darn Coach, I'm guarding BROCK, and there aint nobody else out here that will even try to guard him"....lol...classic stuff my friend....thank you both for the memories....
7. Rodney Wolfinger:
I got a Baker High fact for you that some folks might not know or might have forgotten about... during the 1965-1966 school year, Baker High School lost only 1 basketball game...I am talking ALL Baker teams that year...the Freshman team, the Jr. Varsity and the Varisty combined, only lost one game...the Freshman team was 24 and 0 and Bi-City Champs, the Jr. Varsity was 26 and 0 and Bi-City Champs, and the Varsity was 30 and 1...the Varsity's only loss that year was in the State Championship game..they had won 30 straight up to that point...and guys like Benny Brock and Ken Emerson and Ken James played a very big part in our success that year....I am proud that I had the honor of wearing a Baker High School basketball uniform that year just like my heroes...
8. R. Jesse Harwell, Class of '70:
Sorry to hear about Ken! He certainly was a Mr. Baker High and everyone I knew truly admired him. He's in a better place and does not have to suffer anymore.
9. Roy Cook, Class of '68:
Ken James was a hero to us all, Rodney. What a great guy he was. I have five photos that he gave me to display in the Lions Den with him in his # 82. Also have one of him and his wife Debra taken back in 2005 when he was in town. She is a class lady and took great care of Ken. We will miss him.
10. Gary Parmer, Class of '71:
Ken James graduated before I got to Baker but I watched every Baker home football game from the time I was in 6th grade. I remember watching Ken play and remember him as a special player. He dated some girl that went to our church for a minute and came to some services. I always thought he was the biggest guy I'd ever seen. Rodney, you're right everybody wanted to be Ken James. Ken, RIP with love.
11. Jimmy Barnes, Class of '67:
There's only one football play I remember at Memorial Stadium involving the Lions. Thats the play where KEN JAMES kicked off, stole the ball from the other teams return man, and then scored a Baker touchdown himself... I'm sure lots of y'all remember that one. I've never seen that done before or since.
12. Larry G. Lawson, Class of '68:
That was some special basketball year at Baker. A guy named Barry Timmerman could not be stopped and I believe he scored like 44 points to help beat our lions. Coach Ball used all the Alabama guys, James, Emerson, and Duke to knock Timmerman into the stands(legally of course) but it was his night. What a group of outstanding individuals that went to Alabama from Baker. Ken would always come back and visit and he was a kind individual with a big heart. He will be sorely missed but now he sits with the Bear once again. God Bless
13. Jeanne Gehm, Class of '69:
Thank you so much Sid for the information on Ken. It is sadness in my heart hearing about another passing of a Lion. Ken James was always the sweetest, kindness and loving friend. He was loved and is loved by everyone that had the special experience of meeting Ken. Ken gave the true definition of being a LION! Ken and his family are in Glenn's and my prayers and thoughts.
14. Rodney Wolfinger:
another KEN JAMES story....My Daddy was a Baker High School Basketball NUT!!...he just loved Baker Basketball...never missed a game...planned his days around all the games home or away...and he would give all the players free passes to the Drive-In when he saw them...i think he got a bigger kick outta givin the guys the free passes than they did by gettin them....he just loved those guys...anyways, as a lot of you know, my Daddy was kinda a quiet sorta gruff old Army guy...didnt say much, didnt smile much, could chew yo butt out wiff da best of um...just ask MAYOR MIKE B or CHUCK SMITH or either of the Wicks sisters, Pam or Patsy or anybody else whoever worked for him...lol...most folks, especially us kids, would just keep their distance from him other than a quick hello and move on...NOT KEN JAMES..lol..everytime he used his free passes he would seek out my Daddy and walk right up to him and stick out his hand and in that big voice of his say.."Mr Wolfinger sir, thank you for the free passes sir, I am enjoying the movie very much sir"....lol....and they would stand out on the patio in front of the concession stand talking about the last game Baker had...during basketball season Dale Emerson and Don Crow used to come to my house on days before games to wait cause i lived closer to the school...my Daddy didnt even talk to US about the games when we were right there....lol....but he never missed a chance to talk to KEN about a game...lol... Daddy was a Georgia Tech fan... I say "was", cause when James and Emerson and Deaton and Duke all went to Alabama....he was converted....lol
15. Carol Williams Merrill, Class of '67:
I am so sorry to hear the news about Ken James. Not only were we classmates, but we were next-door neighbors while at Eddy & Baker. And because I always wanted an older brother, I adopted Ken and his older brother, Bobby '65, as my "brothers". I spoke to Ken's mother on Saturday afternoon and I don't think they expected him to go this soon. But after speaking to Bobby this afternoon, it appears it was a blessing as Ken was in a lot of pain.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 12, 2010, from 5 to 7 p.m. CDT at Ridout's Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Rd., Birmingham AL 35235, phone 205-833-1444. The service will be Friday, August 13, 2010, at 2 p.m. CDT at the Trussville First United Methodist Church, 120 N Chalkville Rd., Trussville, AL 35173.
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Olin Williams (1970)
I was in touch with Ken several months back. He laughed when I told him that Mrs. Moffett my freshman English teacher once said he was her idea of a "handsome man." He joked that she may not say that if she saw him now. He was such a great guy!
Shirley Boyer (Cutler) (1967)
The most important quality about Ken James is that he was a Christian. He is in heaven. Pete and I spoke to him various times during the past few years. We were fortunate to get to visit with him and get to know his wife, Debra and his son Michael and his family. Ken had a great humor about everything, even though he was in a great deal of pain. We will miss the chats, everyone that knew him loved him. He was a great human being...Pete and Shirley Cutler
Wendy Guenther (Mock) (1970)
It is always sad to hear of a LION'S passing. My heart goes out to the family. I do know that they are all still "ROARING" in Heaven, and that one day we will all have our reunion with them. Rest in peace Ken.
Wendy
Evelyn Roebuck (1967)
I'm crying today cause such a wonderful person left this world too early. My heart goes out to his family who watched this monster disease hurt their loved one. I felt lucky to see him at Cook's April 2009 and meet his lovely wife.
I had a big crush on him in high school. I asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance.....when I called him he said I wondered when you were going to ask me. He also took me to a Christmas Dance. The memories are quite faded (only 45 years ago) but whatever happened I had a great lasting impression of him. There was just something extraordinary about him, and it's hard to believe he and his family had to suffer so. It just isn't fair.
Baker Lion (1969)
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Posted Friday, August 13, 2010 at 1:11 AM
welp, me and ROY made it up to Birmingham and back safe and sound...i sure do pity poor ROY when he has to git up at O dark 30 in the mornin and git dem chillins to school...but he is a trooper and he will handle it like he always does...
I have never ever been more proud to be a Baker BUM than I was today....proud that I had the pleasure of going to school with Ken James and proud to be able to call him my friend...Unfortunatley I have attended more Visitations and Funerals in my lifetime than I would have like to, but I have never, ever seen as many people as I did tonight...they had to make the line in the Chapel like they do at Six Flags, you know how they have to snake the line back and forth so it aint one real long line...well thats how they had to do it in the Chapel cause if they hadnt then the line would have been through the whole building and then out the door and through the parking lot and probably down the street....SID, you were right about what you said when we was talkin today....The Church aint gonna be no where big enuff for the funeral tomorrow....the Baker BUMS we got to see tonight were..Ken Deaton, Ken Emerson, Sidney Roche and Vince Collier...Thanks Vince for calling a couple times to check on us...we told ya we would make it...Ken's wife asked me to pass along something to all the BUMS out there....she told me to tell everyone how overwhelmed she was at all the love and support she had received from all the Baker people....she told me how proud Ken was of his beloved Univ of Alabama, but she said he NEVER failed to let anyone know where he grew up and went to high school...she kinda smiled one time and said "And you know Ken, he would tell them even if they didnt ask"...lol...one of the coolest things was they were showing a slide show up on a big screen in the chapel...most of the pictures were of Ken at Alabama and a lot of family photos...but I bout busted the buttons out on my shirt when I saw they had included pictures of Ken from Baker, playing football and playing baskeball and there was one picture they included from a get-together of Ken and Roy and Oscar P and Ken Deaton and a few more folks i cant remember right now....I was like a sponge just standing around listening to a lot of Ken's former teammates from Alabama telling old stories involving Ken...we spent a lot of time, of course with Ken Deaton and Ken Emerson and Vince Collier...you could tell those guys Loved Ken James...you know, Ken was a retired coach and teacher and Roy and I got to talk to a couple of his former students who were there....i got a kick out of one of them telling us he thinks he still has a couple of knots on his head that were put there by Ken using his NCAA National Championship ring...lol....Ken's son also told me how much his Daddy talked about Baker and growing up in Columbus...He made sure I knew his Daddy was proud of where he came from...
i told ROY on the way home there are some people in the world who might think it was gaudy or sacreligious but what i am about to describe WAS Ken James...and it was more fitting for him than anything i can think of....Ken's casket was Crimson Red and the inside was white with the University of Alabama Logo...just an awesome site...they had an Alabama helmet with Ken's number 83 sitting on a pedestal right by his casket..and there was a houndstooth (black and white checkered) hat with the Alabama "A" in his casket ...Ken was dressed in classy blue suit that only Ken could wear and of course, he had on an Alabama tie...just awesome, simply awesome...
I am so glad ROY asked me to go with him...I am proud I went....I was humbled by the whole experience....
I am proud I knew KEN JAMES...
Rest In Peace my old friend....
you changed my life today......and I thank you for that...
if you shed any tears today or tomorrow for KEN, I will be shedding them with you...
Ricky Howard (1967)
Ken was simply a great guy and a true friend to every person that he knew. He was a heck of a athlete but a better person. I had the opportunity to play roundball with Ken and he was the consumate competitor. To know him was to love him because he was the same guy all of the time. He will be missed. My heart goes out to his family.
Rick Howard
Class of 67
Gary Jones (1973)
Probably a lot of Ken's classmates don't remember he came back to coach football at Baker around 1972. He came in like a breath of fresh air with one helluva Fu manchu, and what I liked about him most, he was the only coach willing to give me a chance at DE despite my less than adequate size. He went to bat for me but Stringer and Gresham overruled him. During the riots Ken took an ACTIVE HAND and actually saved some students from getting hurt. He was truly a man and a wonderful guy.
David L Henson (1967)
Ken was a terific guy and friend to everyone who knew him. I remember the tour he gave me of the athletic dorm at Alabama on a visit I made there during a Homecoming Weekend. In our class our senior year the tacher wanted everyone to write a plan for their lives after graduating from Baker. I sat in front of him in class and we were sharing our paper, for our future plans. Ken`s paper simply stated, "Roll Tide".~ God Bless you, Ken!!
Rebecca Moriarty (Clawson) (1964)
I never knew Kenny as a coach or a football hero. He was just a friend in Mannheim Germany and of course we were at Baker too. My sister and I sometimes talk about people we knew back then and Kenny and Robert James are always two we remember and wondered what they did with their lives. I'm glad he was such a success and so sad he left early.
Mike Stokes (1968)
REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND. MY MEMORIES OF US TOGETHER IN SPORTS AT BHS LIVE STRONG. I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU HAVING MY BACK. THANK YOU KEN FOR EVERYTHING. GOD BLESS !