Irene F. "Momma Rene" James

JAMES, Ms. Irene "Momma Rene" "Granny Rene" - Age 76, passed away Saturday July 27, 2013 at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital. Family hour 11:00AM Saturday August 3, 2013 at Welcome Missionary Baptist Church, 143 Oneida St., with funeral service commencing immediately at 11:30AM. Interment Perry Mount Park Cemetery, 878 N. Perry St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:00AM Saturday. Mrs. James will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., and may be viewed from 2-8PM Friday. Irene Francis James was born to the late Robert Brown and Mamie L. McElroy Brown on July 15, 1937 in Pontiac, Michigan. God called her home to be with him on Saturday, July 27, 2013 surrounded by her loving family and friends. She confessed to Christ at an early age while attending New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. She graduated from Pontiac High School and then from the McAuley School of Practical Nursing in January of 1958. She was a LPN at Clinton Valley State Hospital and retired after 30 years of service and continued practicing nursing through home health care. In 1958, she married John Walter James Jr. To this union was born four sons, Kurt James of Charleston, SC, John (Karen) James III of Muncie, IN, Jeffrey (Michele) James of Hampton, GA and Kevin (Shannon) James of Grand Blanc, MI, and a special daughter Mary Frances (Larry) James-Campbell of Columbus, OH. She is blessed with eighteen grandchildren, LaQurshia (Quita), MoniQue (Moie), Kurt James II (KJ), Josiah-Jordan, John Walter IV, King Jaron, Darius, Keshia, Kamry, Kandace, Isiah, Cameron, Ariana, Chandler, Sydney, Isaac and Isaiah and six great-grandchildren, Diamond, Dylan, Denver, Dakota, Antonio, and Karmelo. She is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Inetta Brown of Pontiac, MI; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Irene cherished her lifelong friendships with Gloria Beasley, Edna Williams, Mary Posey, Gwen Slappy, Juanita Warren and Lenora Lighthouse and special relatives, Hazel Brown and Pam Whiters. Irene loved her family very much. To her children and grandchildren, she was affectionately called “Momma Rene” or “Granny Rene”. She loved planning gatherings (i.e. fish frys) with her family. She really enjoyed the time she spent with her family and grandchildren on holidays and special occasions. Minor aches would suddenly vanish with a visit to the casino, a favorite pastime. Not to mention the much anticipated monthly lunch dates with her “Valley Girls”, a group of ladies that retired with Irene from the State of Michigan. She was a voice of reason and a person that you could always count on to speak the truth. Irene was very dependable and always rescued anyone in distress. She was our WONDER WOMAN! She was preceded in death by a sister, Lonnie Richards, a brother, Cecil Brown Sr. and a great-grandson, Darrian Daniel. She will be greatly missed, but “never ever” forgotten..

Irene F. "Momma Rene" James

July 15, 1937 - July 27, 2013