Obituaries:  John W. James, Sr., 1972, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From:  November 15, 1972 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American

John W. James, Winn Native, Dies In Columbia

John W. James, Sr., 94, of Columbia, prominent Caldwell Parish resident and
widely known in banking, political and civic circles, died Friday, November
10,
1972 in the Caldwell Parish Hospital and Clinic following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services were held for Mr. James at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church
of Columbia of which he was a long time faithful member.  The Rev. Ken Ward,
pastor of the church, officiated at the services with burial in Columbia Hills
Cemetery.

A native of Winn Parish, Mr. James had been a resident of Columbia for more
than
80 years and was president of the James Family Reunion which convened each
year
since 1933 in Winn Parish.  He had served as president of the Citizen
Progressive
Bank in Columbia for 54 years and was one of the co-founders of the
institution. 
One of his grandsons, John James, is a vice president of the bank.

Mr. James also owned a plantation near Columbia and had operated a grocery
store
there for 50 years.  He was also associated with the James Hardware Company in
Columbia, which was founded in 1929.

During his lifetime he had served on the Caldwell Parish Police Jury and the
Tensas Basin Levee Board.  In 1934, he was elected for a four year term in the
Louisiana House of Representatives, and in 1940 was elected to the Louisiana
State Senate.

Mr. James was also a member of the Delta Council, an organization interested
in
industry, agriculture, and civic affairs.  He was a master mason for 65 years
and
a 32nd degree mason for 57.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. O'dell James; two sons, J. Clyde James of
Columbia and J. W. James, Jr., of Austin, Tex.; one daughter, Mrs. Myra Ashley
of Shreveport; five grandchildren, A. Clayton James, Jr., of Franklinton, Mrs.
JoAnn Kitchens and John James, both of Columbia, Randall James of Canyon,
Tex.,
and David James of Austin, Tex., and nine great grandchildren.