James (Jim) Shumate, 91, of Hickory died peacefully Thursday, October 10, 2013, at Catawba Regional Hospice surrounded by his family. He was born October 21, 1921, in Wilkes County to the late Martin and Artha Teague Shumate.
A self-taught fiddler, as a young man, Shumate began playing with Don Walker and the Blue Ridge Boys on the radio station WHKY. His playing was heard by Bill Monroe who hired him to play with his Blue Grass Boys on the Grand Ole Opry. After playing with Bill Monroe, he joined Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Boys and played on their first recording. In 1948 he won the National Fiddlers Convention in Richlands, Virginia. He also made six solo recordings of bluegrass standards, as well as his own original tunes. Shumate’s innovative fiddle style earned his a place in the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1995 he received the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award given by the North Carolina Arts Council for “excellence achieved through a lifetime of practice.” One of the pioneers of bluegrass music, Shumate appeared on a TNN special, “Grass Roots for Bluegrass,” in 1999. He performed at the first Merlefest in 1988 and returned in 2005 to perform with other former members of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Shumate’s fiddle and band photos are currently on display in Raleigh at the N. C. Museum of History as part of an exhibition on N. C. bluegrass musicians.
Shumate was retired from Better Homes Furniture Company where he worked for many years. He was a faithful member of Penelope Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Jimmy and Randy Shumate, his brother, Mack Shumate and three sisters, Etta Holbrook, Ella Kilby and Ila Blevins. Survivors include his wife of seventy years, Naomi Stephens Shumate and two daughters, Rita (Frank) Miller and Judi Ingold. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Joyce Shumate. His grandchildren are Rick (Gina) Jenkins of Hickory, Greg (Elaine) Jenkins of Blacksburg, Virginia, Jimmy (Tonya) Shumate of Hickory, Ashley (Don) Mauldin of Lincolnton, Colby (Sarah) Shumate of Hickory, John (Natalya) Miller of Asheville, Matt (Jen) Russ of Canton, Ohio, and Holly (Matt) Johnson of Charlotte. His great grandchildren include Zachary Jenkins, Anna Jenkins, Claire Jenkins, Will Jenkins, Tyler Mauldin, Sam Russ, Max Russ, Cole Johnson, Charlize Johnson and Austin Shumate. He is also survived by two sisters, Austeen Shumate of North Wilkesboro and Lucille Brock of Plant City, Florida, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P. M. Sunday, October 13, 2013 at Penelope Baptist Church with the Reverend Nicholas King and Reverend Don Ingle officiating. Burial will follow in Catawba Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 12, from 6:00 – 8:00 P. M. at Hickory Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Out-Of-The-Ashes Fund at Penelope Baptist Church, 3310 Main Ave., N. W., Hickory, N. C. 28601.
Condolences may be made online at www.hickoryfh.com.
Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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