It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of James "Jim" Ming who departed this life on December 27, 2023. Born on October 3, 1944, James touched the lives of many with his infectious laughter, kind gestures, and generous heart.

Known affectionately as "Jim" to his close friends and Austin to his family, James had a preference for his formal name. He enriched the lives of everyone around him with his smart, funny, classy, and kind personality. His love and appreciation for the finer things in life were evident in his choice of music. Uncle Austin's hand-curated playlist on Youtube, a personal favorite, is just one testament to his eclectic taste: https://youtube.com/playlist?…

The beloved husband of the late Judith Ming, James was a beacon of strength, raising himself out of Panama City, Florida and rising to the heights of Oakland Hills with his beautiful bride. His resilience and determination were equally matched by his academic pursuits. A proud alumnus of Florida A & M University, he earned a degree in Accounting in 1968, furthering his education with an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 1985.

James spent his career in accounting. His first position was Senior Auditor at Price Waterhouse in New York.  He moved to San Franisco to take the role of Senior Auditor with Coopers and Lybrand.  He was a Senior Internal Auditor at Fibreboard Corp; Controller at Paxall Pak Master Division and retiring as the Corporate Controller at Legacy Transportation Services all here in the Bay Area.

James loved sports. He was an avid golfer and tennis player. He was the first golf teacher of his grand nephew Franklin Stout Jr and James Giles Jr's biggest fan in his tennis pursuits. He could be seen at Oakland A's games and the Oakland Raiders. He and his late mother in-law, Audrey Byrd, were rivals as she supported the 49ers. He was a huge Warriors fan and rarely missed a game whether in person or on television. James loved to play cards. He thought he could beat anyone at bid whist.

James is survived by his sister, Gloria Thurman, and his nieces Cerise Alston-Ming, Bettina Byrd-Giles, Evita Byrd, Krista Stout, Hilary Ming, and La Toya Hnarakis. He also leaves behind his nephews, Douglas Stout, Brian Byrd,  Brett Byrd, Waddie Ming III, and Lafayette Ming Jr. and a host of grand nieces and nephews. Their beloved 'Uncle Jim' will be deeply missed but will continue to live on in their hearts and memories. He was the godfather of Natasha Graham, Keri Pegram, Tyara Brooks. 

A viewing for James will be held on January 28, 2024 at 10:00 AM-12PM at Chapel of the Chimes, followed by a funeral service on the same day at 1:00 PM-3:00PM at Chapel Of The Chimes Oakland Funeral Home & Crematory. Additionally, a special gathering in honor of James will be held at Crogran's Montclair 6101 La Salle Ave, 94611. All who knew and loved Jim are welcome to attend and celebrate his extraordinary life.

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