Dr. Thomas N James

He was born in Amory, Mississippi, on October 24, 1925, to Naum and Kata Evanova James. He took his medical doctorate from Tulane University in New Orleans, and served two years at the United States Army hospital in Osaka, Japan, at the end of the Korean War, leaving the army with the rank of captain.

In 1955 he began a long and fruitful professional life, combining a deep passion for medical research with patient care, teaching and administrative responsibilities. He enjoyed long associations with the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans; the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit; the University of Alabama at Birmingham; the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; the American Heart Association; and the World Congress of Cardiology. Most of these he served at various times as departmental chairman or president. He was honored with over two hundred awards and invited lectureships all over the world. His legacy includes 472 publications, over half a million photomicrographs, and the training of two generations of cardiologists.

He retired to Birmingham in 2004, when declining eyesight compelled him to turn off his beloved microscope for the last time.

Dr. James was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Helen Pipher; and his brother Philip. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, the former Gleaves Tynes; a sister, Mary James (of New York City); a brother, Norman (of Amory, Miss.); three sons, Mark (and wife Marine Le Minor, of Auckland, New Zealand), Terry (and wife Loryn, of Birmingham, Ala.), and Peter (and wife Gigi, of Sterrett, Ala.); and grandchildren Matthew, Sara, Tommy, Elizabeth, and Alexis.

The family would like to thank the nurses and aides at New Beacon Hospice for easing his transition from this world to the next.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 15, at 1:00 PM at the Southern Heritage Funeral Home, 475 Cahaba Valley Road (Highway 119), Pelham. Interment at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Ala., will be arranged later. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the charity of your choice.