Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....James, Ruth Harrison Wilson October 7, 1997
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Suzy Ward Fleming wardflemin@aol.com October 26, 2014, 8:33 pm

Virginian-Pilot, October 9, 1997
Ruth Harrison Wilson James, widow of Ellis M. James, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 
1997, at the age of 84 in her son's residence. Mrs. James, a native of South 
Norfolk, was a graduate of Maury High School and the College of William and 
Mary. She was the first woman student at Old Dominion University in 1930 when 
it was a branch of William and Mary. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa 
Delta Pi, and Phi Mu Fraternity. In later years, she earned a master's degree 
at ODU while serving as director of St. John's Cooperative Kindergarten and 
later while teaching kindergarten in the Norfolk Public Schools. She was a 
member of Freemason Street Baptist Church. In 1996, she was elected one of the 
church's first women deacons. In the late 1940s, she became a member of the 
Women's Interracial Council. In 1958, Mrs. James and her husband, on behalf of 
their daughter, were the lead-off litigants in the James v. Almond suit to 
reopen the Norfolk Public Schools that were closed when ordered to integrate, 
and in the James v. Duckworth suit to reopen the same schools kept closed by 
the City of Norfolk. She served as co-chairman of the Parent-Student-Teacher 
Association committee that, after a 3 1/2 year effort, persuaded the Norfolk 
City Council to acquire land for Maury High School's physical education and 
athletic activities. Survivors include two sons, Ellis W. James of Norfolk and 
Franklin W. James of Anderson, S.C.; a daughter, Pendleton Moudrianakis of 
Baltimore; a sister, Elizabeth W. Downey of Virginia Beach; five grandchildren 
and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. 
Saturday in Freemason Street Baptist Church by Dr. Donald J. Dunlap and 
Franklin W. James. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to 
Freemason Street Baptist Church, Old Dominion University or a charity of your 
choice.

 

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