James Wakely Sargent began his life’s journey September 17, 1931, as the fourth child and first son of eleven children, of the late Johnny Orange Sargent and Valrie Wiley Sargent in Ellis County, Texas.
James, also known as “Bo” by family and friends, was reared and educated in the surrounding communities of Lancaster and Dallas, Texas; attending Rocky Crest School formerly Lancaster Colored School in Lancaster, Texas, and Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas. As the eldest son of a sharecropper, James developed a strong work ethic, toiling with his father and siblings in the cotton fields when he became old enough to work; even learning how to drive on a tractor. James sacrificed his senior year of high school, working two jobs to help his father and family; getting up early to milk cows on a dairy farm; then going to a different farm to work the fields. One day while working in the fields, contemplating what his life would be, James looked up and saw an airplane flying overhead. He decided that he would chart a different path for his life, telling his dad he wanted to join the U.S. Air Force.
Joining the U.S. Air Force in September, 1949, shortly after his 18th birthday, James began the journey that changed his life, and took him to places near and far. He served in two wars, Korean and Vietnam; working in various areas of civil engineering when stationed in Korea, Japan, Thailand, Greenland, Germany, Spain and various U.S. domestic bases; traveling to many other countries while stationed abroad. Although he wore the U.S. Air Force uniform, when stationed in the south, he wasn’t allowed to eat in restaurants, having to purchase meals from their back door, nor allowed to stay in hotels with his fellow white airmen when traveling. He saw and endured many experiences that could have led him to become an angry, bitter and self-destructive man, but instead, by God’s grace, he turned away from the poison of those emotions and created a life love and family. During the course of his military career, he completed his high school education, earning his GED certification; learned he didn’t like skiing; and, along with two younger brothers who followed his lead in joining the U.S. Air Force, purchased a house for their parents in Dallas, Texas, ending their lives of sharecropping forever. Retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant, James was honorably discharged on November 30, 1975 after 26 years, 2 months and 2 days of military service, and returned home to Dallas, Texas, to chart yet another direction for his life.
James accepted Christ and was baptized at a young age, becoming a member of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Lancaster, Texas, his family’s home church. During his time in the military, several changes occurred at Macedonia, including the calling and installation of a new pastor, the Rev. Cargain P.H. Kise. When James retired and returned home, he noticed the pastor’s oldest daughter, Cathy, was “all grown up.” They began talking and had their first date on Good Friday, 1976. A few months later, James proposed and they married Christmas Day, 1976. The Lord blessed their union with four beautiful children: Nature, Jamie, Jamison and Natalie. And, a lifetime together of exceedingly abundantly above all they could ask or think, including four beautiful grandchildren: Aniyah, Leora, Noah and Mason.
James became a licensed journeyman electrician after retirement, working with his late brother-in-law, Matthew Cartwright, the first licensed African-American Master Electrician in Texas. After Mr. Cartwright’s retirement, James worked for Cox Electric. During his employment with Cox Electric, his wife, Cathy, joined the U.S. Air Force, and he began another, but different “stint” in the military. After four years of Cathy’s active military duty, they returned to Dallas, Texas in June, 1982. James continued his career as an electrician with the Dallas Independent School District where he was eventually promoted out of field work, retiring as a Planner, January 31, 2000. He also built his own electrical business; gradually, but steadily, gaining more and more customers by word of mouth. As the old gospel hymn states, “May the work I’ve done speak for me.”
After their return to Dallas in 1982, James led his family to join the Faithful Missionary Baptist Church, where they faithfully served until November, 1996, after which time, being led by the Lord, James and family joined the Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorage of the late Rev. Dr. Karry D. Wesley. James was chosen and installed as a Deacon by Pastor Wesley and faithfully served until his death.
James, a humble man, an honorable man, a generous and kind man, a loving man, a righteous man, and one who laughed often, was called home to Glory on June 4, 2020, joining his parents, Johnny and Valrie; sisters, Jean Ester Majors, Johnnie Cartwright and Reannie Scott; and son-in-law, Richard Okoloise.
Those remaining to cherish and honor his memory are his loving wife of 43 years, Cathy K. Sargent, Dallas, Texas; one son, Jamison C. Sargent (Ilesha), Houston, Texas; three daughters, Nature M. Sargent, Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE; Jamie C. Okoloise, Friendswood, Texas; and Natalie M. Timmons (Marcell), Carrollton, Texas; four grandchildren, Aniyah Elise Sargent, Leora Rose E. Okoloise, Noah James Timmons and Mason Julian Timmons; special godchild, Lisa Fowler; three sisters, Ossie Lewis, Omaha, NE; Louise Jones (Roy), Dallas, Texas; Barbara McClanahan, Dallas, Texas; four brothers, Rev. John Henry Sargent (Bessie), Dallas, Texas; Pastor, Temple of Truth, Lancaster, Texas; Joshua Sargent (Ann) Woodbridge, VA; Rev. M.E. Sargent (Cynthia), Dallas, Texas; Pastor, True Love Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas; and Rev. Nathan C. Sargent (Toy), DeSoto, Texas; Pastor, Faithful Missionary Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and Antioch Church family.
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