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‘A great oak has fallen’

10/9/2015, 8:08 a.m.
Hundreds of mourners gathered last Saturday to celebrate the life of Dr. Allix B. James, president emeritus of Virginia Union …

Dr. James’ daughter, Portia James-Stubbs, leads family and close friends into the service, including Dr. James’ goddaughter, former Richmond Circuit Court Judge Margaret P. Spencer and husband U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer, center.

Photo by Rudolph Powell

Dr. James’ daughter, Portia James-Stubbs, leads family and close friends into the service, including Dr. James’ goddaughter, former Richmond Circuit Court Judge Margaret P. Spencer and husband U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer, center.

Hundreds of mourners gathered last Saturday to celebrate the life of Dr. Allix B. James, president emeritus of Virginia Union University, who died Sept. 26 at age 92.

The funeral was held in VUU’s Coburn Hall chapel that is named in Dr. James’ honor.

Dr. James touched the lives of countless numbers of people through his work at VUU and within the community. Through the years, he served on more than 50 boards and organizations and held leadership positions on the Virginia State Board of Education, the Richmond Planning Commission and Paradigm Communications Inc., which publishes the Richmond Free Press.

Among those attending the funeral were, from left front, Dr. Claude G. Perkins, the current president of Virginia Union University, and his wife, Cheryl Perkins; Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, a VUU alumnus; Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott; and former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, also a VUU alumnus.

Photo by Rudolph Powell

Among those attending the funeral were, from left front, Dr. Claude G. Perkins, the current president of Virginia Union University, and his wife, Cheryl Perkins; Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, a VUU alumnus; Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott; and former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, also a VUU alumnus.

“A great oak has fallen,” said Dr. Levy M. Armwood Jr., pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jackson Ward, who spoke about Dr. James’ impact on the church.

Also giving tributes were Dr. John W. Kinney, dean of VUU’s School of Theology, who spoke about Dr. James’ impact on education; Dr. Jeffrey B. Spence, former Virginia president and CEO of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, who spoke about Dr. James’ impact on the community; and Dr. Robert L. Jemerson, pastor of Second Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, who spoke about the James family legacy. Each of the men had a close relationship with Dr. James and all earned degrees from VUU.