He accepted Christ at an early age and united with Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Linden, AL, and would later become a deacon. He was married to Martha Ruth Woods of Birmingham, AL, on August 18, 1957. To this union was born two sons, James and Gregory, and one daughter, Faye. While living in Montgomery, AL, he and Martha united with Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, under the pastorage of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While there, he sang with the church choir and also with the Alabama State College choir.
At the age of 20, Joe James was drafted into the United States Army on July 15, 1954, and served for a period of 24 years of active and reserve duty, including tours in Kaiserslautern and Stuttgart, Germany; Taegu, Korea; Anchorage, Alaska; Long Binh, Vietnam; Ft. Jackson, SC; Ft. Benning, GA; Ft. Bliss, TX; Sandia Base (now Kirkland AFB), NM; and New Orleans, LA.
He was a member of the following churches during his life: Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL; Mount Olive Baptist Church, Albuquerque, NM; Second Good Hope Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA; Pleasant Valley and Vista Grande Baptist Churches, Colorado Springs, CO. He served as choir member, deacon, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and usher. After moving back to Alabama in 1993, he reunited with Bethlehem Baptist Church. J.J. and Martha remained engaged in Christian ministry work as they continued to minister in the church, the community and the Marengo County Jail.
J.J.’s education spanned 50 years beginning at Miller Junior High School, Linden Academy, Alabama State College for Negroes (BS); University of Maryland, Taegu, Korea; University of New Mexico; Pikes Peak Community College and he performed Master’s Degree work at the University of West Alabama, Livingston. His work history included ten years in Civil Service while living in Colorado; Parts Sales Manager at Auto Zone in Thomasville, AL; school bus driver for Marengo County and Linden City schools; a Japanese language teacher at Marengo County; and jobs coaching for children with disabilities in Special Education at Demopolis High School.
J.J. was preceded in death by his Mother, Placidia Worthy Bruno and Father, Alex Bruno; one brother, Adley Joe (Joe Baby); one sister Eddie Mae Mitchell; five uncles: Eugene, George, Cleophas, Arthur George and Eddie Gray Worthy. 6 aunts: Martha Chaney, Mary Rembert, Lucy Huntington, Adele Lockett, Margaret Richardson and Rosalyn Worthy Smith. He leaves to mourn his passing a loving and devoted wife, Martha Bruno of Phoenix, AZ; two sons, James E. (& Beverly) Bruno of Orlando, FL; and Gregory Bruno of Waynesboro, VA; one daughter Faye Bruno of Phoenix, AZ; two grandchildren: Erica Danielle (& Nate) Doyle and Terrence Christopher Bruno, both of Colorado Springs, CO; and two great grandchildren, Isaiah and Elijah Doyle. He also leaves one sister, Sarah Earl White of Linden; four step-brothers: Carl (& Donna) Hayes, Jr., Bobby Joe (& Ella Mae) Hayes of Denver, CO; and Eddie Chestene (& Glenda) Hayes of Shreveport, LA and Magnolia, AL; three step-sisters: Doris (& Immanuel) Williams of Gary, IN; Christine (& Alfred) Dinwiddie of Chicago, IL; and Yvonne Brown of Carson, CA; three other sisters-in-law; Augustine Woods of Milton, FL; Rev. Mary E. Woods of Albuquerque, NM; and Thelma Poeltnitz of Myrtlewood, AL; and aunts: Lois Grayson Worthy of Dixons Mills, AL; Mildred Worthy of Montgomery, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; other relatives and friends.
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