James Sylvester Doll

A graveside service will be held at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington, IL. Details to come. Cremation rites have been accorded by East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Life Baptist Church at Lake in the Hills, IL. To share memories or condolences online, please visit www.eastlawnmemorial.com.

James was born May 7,1944 in Detroit, MI, son of Sylvester L. and Ada Helen Galbraith Doll. He married M. Joan Smith Doll on April 6, 1996. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Jerri (Matthew) Phenix and granddaughter, Audrey Phenix; a stepson, Paul (Jessie) Coe and grandchildren, Richard (Indre) Coe and Elizabeth (Jeremy Hipps) Coe. He is also survived by his beloved cat, Princess Leia.

James graduated from Detroit Bible College in Detroit, Michigan. This was the beginning of his love for teaching the Bible; he taught Sunday School, coordinated Lay Readers for the Sunday service and was an occasional backup preacher at New Life Baptist Church at Lake in the Hills.

He worked as a newspaper distribution manager for the Detroit Free Press for the majority of his career. He also trained new managers on the skills needed for newspaper distribution. Always someone who looked out for others, Jim drove a van to transport seniors to daycare activities later in his working years.

He loved golf and basketball both as a spectator and as a player. Always active and looking for fellowship, he participated in both activities well into his late 70s.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NRSV