Rowena M James

1924-2014

Rowena Millsaps James passed away on Friday evening, February 28, 2014, her 90th birthday, at Arcadia Care Home in Waxhaw, NC, where she had been a resident the past 3 ½ years under the loving and dedicated care of Miguel and Karen Ballesteros.

Her family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at the McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel in Mint Hill. A worship service in celebration of her life will follow in the chapel at 2 p.m., followed by interment in Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte. Conducting the rites will be her son-in-law, Reverend V. Lamar Helms, assisted by Reverend P. Lonnie Pittman of Faith United Methodist Church in Indian Trail, and her granddaughter, Stephanie Helms Stone.

Mrs. James was born February 28, 1924 in Alexander County, NC, the fifth of 14 children of the late Edward A. Millsaps and Pearlie Elizabeth Parker Millsaps. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Reared in the Hiddenite area of Alexander County, she had lived in the Hickory Grove Community of Mecklenburg County for many years, where she reared her children. In 2004, she and her husband relocated to the Indian Trail area of Union County.

She and Thomas Ruben James were married March 30, 1946 and celebrated 62 years together before his passing May 3, 2008, at age 86. In 1963, they founded James Plumbing Company, still operated by their son today. She and her husband were charter members of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Charlotte, and for many years were members of the Groovy Grovers Square-dancing group. Her friends will remember her as an avid gardener and unsurpassed cook, who took remarkable care of her entire family.

Survivors include her children, Sylvia Jeanette James Helms and Vernon Lamar Helms of Big Canoe, GA, and Stephen Thomas James and Margaret Jo Ray James of Indian Trail; grandchildren, Stephanie Carmen Helms Stone and husband, Ed, of Cumming, GA, Brandon Munroe Helms and wife, Marybeth, of Indian Trail, Zachary Garrett Helms and wife, Lauren, of Indian Trail, Stephen Dallas James and wife, Emily, of Newberry, SC, and Sara Taylor James of Indian Trail; great-grandchildren, Margaret Leigh “Maggie” Stone, Sophia Brooke Stone, Ethan Cole Helms, Vayla Briana Cornett, Van Westin Cornett, and Sparrow Cana-Rea James.

Also surviving are eight siblings, Texie May Branton, Jettie Lee Millsaps, Clyde Allen “Tom” Millsaps, Clint Ollen Millsaps, and Edward Millsaps, Jr., all of Hiddenite, Ollie Edna Dollyhite of Charlotte, NC, Helen Gant of Taylorsville, NC, and Rayford Millsaps of Statesville, NC; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

The James Family has requested that memorials be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.

Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.

Arrangements under the direction of McEwen Funeral Service - Mint Hill Chapel, Mint Hill, NC.