James Jeffrey "Jim" McEnery

Born on November 5, 1943, in New York City, NY to Irish parents, Mortimer and Nora McEnery, Jim grew up in the Bronx with his older sister, Marie. He developed an early love for learning and history as his mother would take him to museums in the city on weekends. He served in the US Army as a Sergeant in the Signal Corps during Vietnam and would use the GI Bill to allow him to attend Fordham University where he would acquire an Undergraduate and MBA degree. From there he would begin his career with IBM where a rigorous basic training class in Endicott, NY would allow him to meet a spunky young woman from North Carolina named Cindy. Fittingly for an Irishman, Jim and Cindy would marry on March 17, 1979, in the first (and possibly only) joint Baptist/Catholic ceremony held in Siler City, NC. After a honeymoon in California, they would settle in Raleigh, NC and be blessed with 2 children, Michael Kyle, born in 1982 and Katharine Spencer, born in 1985.

Jim enjoyed a variety of hobbies and interests including golfing on sunny days at North Ridge Country Club, being a member of the Sir Walter Gun Club, hunting with his son Michael, watching his daughter Katharine perform, and traveling extensively with his wife Cindy. Their travels took them all over the world including Alaska, Ireland, England, Africa, Greece, Italy, France, Spain and the Nordic Countries. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner and enjoyed studying the Lewis and Clark Expedition and visiting Colonial Williamsburg. More than anything though, he loved his family. Jim loved with his entire being and in his final years, his grandchildren, Jamie and Charlotte, were his pride and joy.

He will be remembered as a man with a strong handshake, a twinkle in his eyes and a beautiful smile with dimples.

Jim is survived by his wife, Cindy McEnery; sister, Dr. Marie McEnery; son, Michael Kyle McEnery; daughter-in-law, Meg McEnery; daughter, Katharine McEnery Pittman; son-in-law, Stewart Pittman; grandchildren, Alice, Jamie and Charlotte; and numerous beloved cousins in Ireland and England.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, May 5th at 11am at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, NC. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be private. The service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://hbbc.org/memorialservices/

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, PO Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187 in support of the Nation Builders program, or Crossnore Communities for Children, PO Box 249 Crossnore, NC 28616.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh is serving the McEnery family.