Alma Ruth Thaniel James was born on January 27, 1930, to the late Thomas and Nelia Thaniel in Montpelier, VA. She slipped peacefully surrounded by her loving family into eternal rest to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 24, 2024, in the comfort of her home in Caroline County.

Alma attended Hanover County Public Schools and graduated from Gandy High School.
Alma dedicated her life to the Lord and was baptized at Bethany Baptist Church in Montpelier, Virginia at an early age. Her life was spent giving thanks and praise to God and services to the community. Her Christian experiences were rich. She was a member and past president of the Deaconess Board, hospitality leader for vacation bible school, and served on the church’s scholarship committee. She was a supportive member in her community by obtaining a NAACP life membership, served vice president and once treasurer for the War Mothers, and volunteered at local hospitals in the Richmond Metropolitan area. She was an active member of the Dawn Progressive Association.

On September 19, 1954, she married her beloved Joseph Lee James, Sr. who preceded her in death on May 31, 1997. From this union, she raised a family of five children: Shirley, Joseph Jr., Mark Sr., Elsie (Annette), and Patricia.
She was a loving homemaker and spent a lot of vacation traveling around the world. When she wasn’t traveling, she was often found putting together puzzles, doing word searches, reading. Ms. Alma, as she was often affectionately called, was known for her delicious apple and sweet potato pies.

Alma was predeceased in death by her brothers Thomas and John Thaniel; and 2 sisters Iretha White and Arrow (Elizabeth) Mitchell.

God called the matriarch of the James family home after blessing us with her love and guidance for many years. Left to cherish her memories are her children: Shirley Clarke (Thomas); Joseph L. James Jr. (Tillie); Mark James (Sherry) all of Caroline County; Elsie Annette James-Tyree (Dwayne) of Bel Air, Maryland; and Patricia Hatcher (Basil) of Caroline County. Eight Grandchildren: Kristyn James-Fox, KiJuanis Smith, Jermaine Derricott, Sr., Brandon James, Lavar James, Mark James Jr., Jamie Hatcher, and Cami Hatcher. Twelve Great Grandchildren: Jorryn Fox; Taylor, Jason and Carter Smith; Jermaine Derricott Jr., Saaniyah Coleman, and Pryce Derricott; Miles and Zora James; Markerra, Maleigha and Xavier James. Her loving sisters Naomi White, Lora Thompson, Vernell (James) Cary, and Verna Thaniel and 3 sisters-in-law Ruth and Bernice Thaniel and Shirley James and 2 brothers-in-law Richard White and James Carey and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Special thanks to Barbara Goodall for her dedication and the many others that assisted her during her illness.