George "Ed" James, 81, of Columbia, passed away on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. A visitation for Ed will be held Monday, March 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia, followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m.
Ed was born Jan. 27, 1940 to Howard and Nellie (Stone) James in Rush Hill. He married Frieda (Semrau) Seay, and to this union Cindy, Kim, and Matt were born. On Nov. 22, 1997 Ed was united in marriage to Betty Jackson in Columbia.
At 5 years old, Ed decided that he wanted to join the Marines. He achieved this dream on Oct. 10, 1958. After serving, he began working for the U.S. Post Office. He was a mail carrier for 23 years and a clerk for 11 years before his retirement. Ed was a proud member of the Masons and active at Parkade Baptist Church.
Ed and Betty enjoyed the outdoors, accomplishing their goal of bicycling in all 50 states and Canada. He loved to garden, planting tomatoes and giving them to family and friends, as well as baking and barbecuing. His cooking was well loved.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Nellie James; stepson, Darin Higginbotham; and sister-in-law, Jonna James.
Ed is survived by wife, Betty James; children, Cynthia James, Kimberly (Jared) James McCormack, and Matthew James; siblings, Bob James and Marinelle Sheeley; grandchildren, James "Jimmy", Madison, and Savannah; as well as several nieces and nephews.
