Mr. James Morgan

James Morgan was born on December 6, 1924 to the late Ruby Bray in LaGrange, Georgia. James was the eldest of seven children: Mattie Blackmon, Gladys Gilmer, Willie Ruth Stanton, Martha Jean Russell, Sanford Jackson, and Jerome Bray, all of whom preceded him in death. Martha White, an aunt whom he cherished as a mother, also preceded him in death. James was an industrious man with a strong work ethic that led to a career in mechanics, carpentry, construction, and masonry. His curiosity regarding how things worked was evident even as a young man when he worked at a gas station in LaGrange. He started working on cars at that gas station and eventually learned to build his own cars. In 1943, James moved to Detroit seeking a better life than LaGrange could offer at the time. In Detroit, he secured work in the foundry and began to improve upon his God-given talents to fix, restore, and create things with his hands. Without any formal training, James was completely self-taught and became a “man of all trades.” When he retired, James had been a faithful member of the Carpenters’ Local 687 for forty-five years. On October 5, 1964, James married his wife of forty-nine years, Bernice Coleman, who was the love and light of his life. James and Bernice joined Unity Baptist Church where he served faithfully until his death. Together they built a life focused on family. Early in their marriage, James and Bernice provided a foundation for their sisters to move to Detroit to be with them. With their permission, Mary Jane Burton came first, then Julia Irvin, then Bertha L. Coleman Poe (Jabari), and finally Rubye Sanders (Johnny) to all of whom he was a father-figure, friend, and brother. Likewise, he was beloved by his mother-in-law, Bertha Coleman; sister-in-law, Johnnie Mae Parker; and brother-in-law, John Coleman III (Mattie). In the company of family, they fully enjoyed life together by going out to eat every Friday evening, having barbeques on weekends and holidays, frequently boating on the Detroit River, and most of all, taking camping trips to enjoy the outdoors. Family and friends will remember James as an easy-going, dutiful, and strong patriarch who was ever-present for his family.

Mr. James Morgan

December 6, 1924 - October 28, 2013