It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of Edward M James, 66, on May 22, 2023. He went to rest at Concord Estates Assisted Living in French Valley, CA, with his wife of nearly 46 years, Margaret, and daughter, Summeur, by his side. His loving son, Andrew, made it to his bedside just moments later, along with his loving wife, Victoria. Alongside his immediate family which includes his Son-in-law, Korey Horn, he is survived by his two sisters, Angela and Patricia, his youngest brother, John, and nephew, Curtis, and nieces, Trecina, Chennanoah and Lisa along with their children.

Edward, known by many as ‘Eddie’ where he grew up on the East Coast, was born on July 14, 1956 to Margaret James (later Barnwell) in New York City, New York. He had fond memories of the years in his youth that he spent with family in Florence, South Carolina, where he attended primary school, and (in later life) often reminisced on the southern home cooked dishes and desserts he became fond of there. 

It was after his mother’s marriage to John Barnwell, Sr, that it was decided that Eddie would join his mother and siblings in Springfield Massachusetts. Eddie would go on to attend Forest Park Jr High here, but found the transition to the changed home life and new location difficult. This led to him getting into trouble with his older brother, Herman. But one day, a man came to his door to talk him about the Bible. Young Eddie and his older brother, Herman, were interested in learning more, and a Bible Study was started. Milton Jones continued to study the Bible with both, up to the point when they individually made the decision to dedicate themselves and become baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses. This began a lifelong career for Edward as a minister for Jehovah, one that he would go on to take very seriously into each new chapter of his life. 

It was a few years after his baptism and graduating from Putnam Vocational Technical High School, that he met a young lady with a lot of sisters at Pete’s hair salon. Her name happened to be Margaret, just like his Mom! When he encountered Margaret Taylor again at an assembly, he decided he wanted to get to know her better. Things progressed,  and on August 20, 1977, they were married. They welcomed their daughter, Summeur,  in January 1979. Edward began supporting his growing family as a technician for Xerox, and accepted a position that moved them to California on February 25, 1982. 

During the next 16 years, he focused much of his free time outside of his secular work with Xerox on expending himself alongside his wife in volunteer ministry work, while also taking on more shepherding responsibilities in the local congregation. Growing up without ever knowing his biological father, he had a soft spot for mentoring young men who related to this void.  At times, this included even having them live with his family, in their home, when they were going through life challenges, while training them on how they could apply Bible principles to shape and mature themselves as spiritual men. He also helped raise one of Margaret’s teenage nieces, Elaine, who came to live with the young couple in California for several years.  

Edward had a generous heart and frequently extended hospitality to many local and international visitors, often inviting them to stay in his family home if they lacked accommodations for a time. Edward also loved travel.  While he was required to do some travel for his secular work, he most enjoyed the trips related to his theocratic volunteer ministry, helping to organize 2 separate trips to South Dakota to share the Bible in areas not often reached. He also had the privilege of attending 2 large international conventions with his wife, one in Prague/Vienna and another in Australia/Fiji. 

In 1997, 18 years after the birth of their daughter, Edward and Margaret welcomed a 2nd child, their son, Andrew. Having outgrown their family home in Anaheim, CA, the family relocated to a home in Lake Elsinore, CA and then again in December 2003 to Wildomar, CA, where the couple lived up to the time of his death. In both locations, he continued to focus his efforts outside of secular work, on the ministry and teaching work that he loved so much and poured himself into his congregation responsibilities. This allowed he and Margaret to also continue expanding their spiritual family with many new, dear friends along the way. 

In 2017, a medical episode revealed that Edward had developed prostate cancer, and he spent 2 weeks in the hospital. After 2 months of maintaining a strict dietary program and oral chemo, his attending physician found his cancer to be in remission, much to the relief of the family.

In 2021, after over 40 years of employment with Xerox, he was able to retire, and immediately jumped back into the work that had his heart, rejoining his wife in the full time volunteer ministry. Unfortunately, signs that his cancer was out of remission were also starting to become evident. Being in full retirement mindset, James opted to do as much as he could with the time he had left, whatever that looked like, to remain as active as possible in the ministry work. This he continued until his physical state no longer allowed.

When his level of care demands exceeded what his family was able handle with the help of hospice, the family decided together it would be best for James to be moved into a facility. It was here he finished out his last 11 days. 

Although we are deeply saddened to be separated from our husband, dad, brother, uncle, friend, and most of all spiritual brother, we are so very relieved he is no longer suffering in the declined state he endured for months. We are also greatly comforted by the hope our God, to whom James devoted his life, gives us: the chance to be reunited with him again, healed from all the things that caused him pain, and see that signature, infectious smile - and maybe even, a playful, raised eyebrow.  Until then, we know it is his greatest wish that everyone he had the privilege to know, use their time left to get to know his Best Friend, and Heavenly Father, Jehovah, the one who granted his Son, Jesus Christ, the power to conquer Death, the last enemy, forever. 

- 1 Corinthians 15:26

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