WILMINGTON — Martha Elmore James, aged 87, passed away July 31, 2024 at home surrounded by her family.
Born January 12, 1937 to Thomas Llewellyn and Laura Hurt Elmore in Suffolk, Virginia, Martha Jennie Elmore was an only child. She lived a very loving and charmed childhood.
Martha graduated from Peace and Meredith Colleges with a degree in teaching. While attending college in Raleigh, NC, she met her future husband, Roy B. James, Sr. (deceased).
After marriage, Martha and Roy moved to Virginia Beach, VA, then Morehead City, NC, before settling in Wilmington, NC. In Wilmington, she taught at Alderman Elementary School, Noble Middle School, and Trask Middle School. She paused her career when she adopted her children, and was very active in the community and with friends. After her children were grown, she returned to teaching, choosing substitute teaching, and was much beloved at area schools, most especially New Hanover High School. She often substituted with special needs children and found great fulfillment.
Working with youth was her passion. She found great joy in mentoring the New Hanover Kit Kats, and teens at St. James Episcopal Parish where she was a youth group leader often accompanying them on ski trips, youth Bible study leader, and Sunday school teacher.
To know Martha was to love her. She never met a stranger and often ran into people she knew on her many travels. Her love of travel included visits to her daughter in Chicago and Colorado, her solo trips to Robert Redford’s Sundance Ranch in Utah, and her girls trips to the Outer Banks and New York City.
Martha was a member of Cape Fear Country Club, Carolina Yacht Club, The Capital City Club, and St. James Episcopal Parish. She is survived by her son Roy Braxton James, Jr., her daughter Laura Logan James Chase, her son-in-law Rodrick Tyler Chase, her daughter-in-law Melanie Arscott James, and her adored grandchildren Taylor Hope James, Roy Braxton James, III (Trey), and Drake Maddox Chase.
Martha was generous and full of life, and will be greatly missed.
Due to inclement weather the services have been changed as follows: Visitation will take place at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel, 4108 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.
A Celebration of Life will be held at St. James Episcopal Parish, 25 S. 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 10 a.m., with time to visit immediately following the service.
