James Ellis McKnight

James Ellis McKnight a.k.a. Dinky to Family and Jame-O to his friends, he was the first born child of James and Edith McKnight on November 14, 1968 at 10:30 a.m. in Chicago, IL. He departed this life on February 26, 2016. He finished High School at the Cosmopolitan Prep School in Chicago, IL. James accepted Christ into his life as a teenager and was baptized by Rev. Yule in Chicago, IL in 1982. He possessed a love for sports and as a young man James joined the Little League Team, which he excelled in. James loved and cherished his family and held the friends that he made as a teenager close to his heart; they remained friends throughout his life and spoke with each other until he departed his earthly life: Peter Hardy, Mike Dunnorm, Andre Holmes, Sayyed BinWalee, Ferren Emerson and Gino Owens. During his journey here on Earth, he met and married Tara Bowels and of that union they were blessed with James Ellis McKnight Jr. and he was a father figure to Dashawn Holmes and George Henderson. James had struggles; he moved to Nevada and joined N.A. where he met Kevin Hughes who became his sponsor, mentor and friend. They formed a very close bond, which they understood and respected one another. James became passionate about the N.A. program and became a sponsor himself. He started his own cleaning service in Nevada and worked diligently on his business success until his demise. A loving worker Lisa Marie Cox, helped him to achieve his goals, they too had a close bond. During his journey in life he met a very special person Jessica Mendoza who cared for him until the end of his life, along with those of us who will cherish his memory: Tara Bowels; his living parents James and Edith McKnight; brother Shawn McKnight (Vanessa) of Chicago, IL; sons James Ellis McKnight Jr. (Lakeshia), Jermaine flowers of IL, DeShawn Holes and George Henderson; aunt Carrie Compton (Nathan) of Chicago, IL; grandchildren Nevaeh McKnight, Jermaine T. Flowers Jr and Jayden c. Flowers. He also leaves a host of relatives and friends.