DECEASED TEACHER - ROBERT JAMES (ENGLISH) 

Here’s the note from his family:

Friends,

Our dear Bob passed away yesterday afternoon. His sister Ellen and nephews John and Stevenson were with him and his last weeks were spent at home, where he was most comfortable. We are grateful to many of you for your kind words and generous deeds over the past month. Bob's diagnosis of late-stage kidney cancer came as a shock, but Bob faced his illness with courage, dignity, and even humor.

During these past weeks, we have been struck by the number and variety of people who called or stopped by to express their regard for Bob and their gratitude for his efforts to serve and strengthen the Mazyck-Wraggborough neighborhood.

Bob leaves a positive and lasting influence on his community and on the hundreds of students he taught over a teaching career that spanned three decades. We are grateful that so many of you took the opportunity to express your love and appreciation for Bob. He felt it deeply, and so do we.

In keeping with his no-nonsense manner, Bob dictated this concise notice, which we are sending shortly to the Post and Courier. But we are already planning at least one party in his honor, to be held later this fall at his home in Charleston. We hope this will give us all an occasion to celebrate Bob's life in grand style. 

Love to you all.

Obituary dictated by Robert James: 

"Robert Ervin James, Jr., died on August 16 at his home, the Robert Gibbes House, on John Street in Charleston. The son of Robert Ervin James and Anna Kingman Salley James, Bob was born on June 28, 1939 in Darlington County, South Carolina.  He is survived by his sister, Ellen James Ramsburgh and her family.  He died peacefully after a short illness.  His ashes will be interred in the gardens at Fairview, the family home."