Beatrice P. James

Sister Beatrice Phillips James was born to the late Thomas Jefferson Phillips and Janie Lue Della Smith, May 21, 1939 in Mt. Willie Community, El Dorado, AR. She grew into a beautiful young girl and becoming a member of the Mt. Willie Baptist Church. She grew in the fear of the Lord. Later, she united with the First Baptist Church – Cordell under the leadership the Rev. Oscar C, Turner., Jr.

On May 19, 1958, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Brother Arguster James, Sr., and to the union five children were born.

She was employed as an LPN at The Medical Center of South Arkansas until her health failed.

She served untiringly as Dean of the Ouachita District Congress. She worked on the Finance Committee at First Baptist Church, the Ouachita District and the CMBSC and worked faithfully at whatever her hands found to do. She was the first black President to serve on the MCSA Auxiliary from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013. She was known as the Adult of the year by the Self Culture Club on January 18, 2014.

She departed this life at the age of 79 years on Saturday March 23, 2019 at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Arguster James, five siblings and two sons: Richard Earl James and Alonzo James.

She is survived by four sons; Jerry Dorton, Sacramento, CA; Arguster James, Jr., Little Rock, AR, Jeffery P. James and Alfonzo (Jannie) James, El Dorado, AR; Three daughters: Glenda R. James, Little Rock, AR, Wanda Faye James and Sandra (Keith) Holden, El Dorado, AR., Two sisters; Theresa (Horace) Moore, El Dorado, AR and Bobbie Jean Richardson, Houston, Tx, one Aunt Ethel Smith, El Dorado, AR., her in-law Laylus Radford, Springhill, LA and Joseph James, Shreveport, LA., favorite cousin Patty Carter, Calion, AR, 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 29, 2019 at Sims Mortuary. Funeral service will be at 11:00am Saturday, March 30, 2019 at First Baptist Church-Cordell in El Dorado, Interment will be at Arlington Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary. Sign the guestbook online at www.simsmortuary.com