Melissa Lee James, 82, passed away on December 8, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia after a brief illness. “Lissie” was born on December 19, 1936 to the late James Clarance Lee and Thelma Gertrude Chalkley in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Hermitage High School in Richmond, Virginia in 1954. She married the late Prior Wilson James in 1956. She worked at Duplex Envelope Company and, later, International Paper as Office Manager and Sales Account Representative. She is survived by her son Michael and his wife, Donna James, of Richmond, Virginia and two grandchildren, Heather James and Michael James, both of Richmond, Virginia. She is also survived by her cousins Pam Gordon of Richmond, Virginia and Chuck Gordon of Oriental, North Carolina. Visitation will be held at Woody Funeral Home at 1771 N. Parham Road on Thursday, December 12th at 1:00 p.m. with a ceremony following at Woody Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. Due to her many years coordinating American Cancer Society’s Walk America, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society.
