Dow Jones – Charles James | Obituaries | wvgazettemail.com

He acquired his (BA) from Morehouse Faculty in 1981 and an M(BA) from The Wharton College, College of Pennsylvania in 1985. After his M(BA), he returned to West Virginia to work together with his father at CH James & Co., a wholesale meals distribution firm established in 1883, acknowledged as one of many oldest African-American owned firms in america.

As a 4th technology entrepreneur, he labored his approach up within the firm to turn into the Chairman & CEO, increasing it from a neighborhood wholesale meals distributor to a number one worldwide provider to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Protection and the Veterans Administration. Later Chuck bought the controlling curiosity in North American Produce Co. within the Metropolis of Business, CA, supplying produce to McDonald’s eating places all through the western United States and Asia. In 2004, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, he acquired a complete of 48 Burger Kings all through Chicago, IL and Birmingham, AL.

Amongst awards, C.H. James & Co. was named “Firm of the 12 months” by Black Enterprise journal (1992) and Chuck was inducted into the West Virginia Enterprise Corridor of Fame (2007). Different honors embrace the Morehouse Faculty Candle within the Darkish Award, the Dow Jones Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, and the Workplace of the Governor’s Distinguished West Virginian Award. He served on a number of boards together with Morehouse Faculty, Wintrust Monetary Company, the Youngsters’s Hospital in Chicago, the Steppenwolf Theatre and the Graduate Board on the Wharton College. Chuck was a member of the Sigma Pi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities, and Edgewood Nation Membership.

Chuck was identified for his vigorous gregarious nature, infectious snicker, stately presence and traditional type. An avid reader, he had a ardour for historical past and biographies and he loved vigorous discussions on the themes. Chuck additionally liked journey together with his household together with annual visits to Martha’s Winery and one among his most memorable journeys was a household safari to South Africa. He had many longstanding friendships, spanning his life from childhood by means of school and into relationships crafted by means of his many enterprise and neighborhood service initiatives.

On September 25, 1982, he married his school sweetheart, Jeralyn Williams James. They raised three sons, Charles Howell IV (C.H.), Nelson, and Jerome (William).

Chuck was preceded in loss of life by his father, Charles James II. He’s survived by his former spouse of 28 years, his three sons, his mom Lucia James, sisters Sheila Nice (Reginald), Dr. Stephanie Williams (Gary) and Sarah Irby (Derek), and a number of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and shut mates.

A celebration of life service will likely be held sooner or later at a date to be decided. He will likely be laid to relaxation together with his father within the household grave website in Charleston, West Virginia. In lieu of flowers, please take into account a donation to his beloved Morehouse Faculty.