BARBARA RAYNES JAMES
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BARBARA RAYNES JAMES of Huntington died in Nashville, Tenn.,
on August 25, 2005, after a lengthy battle with emphysema.
A lovely and gracious woman, she was born outside Charleston, W.Va., on
March 8, 1932, the only daughter of Thelma Garrett Raynes and the late Charles
N. Raynes.
She grew up in Nitro, W.Va., but after a family move, graduated from Dunbar High
School in 1949. That same year, she married a local attorney, the late W.
Stanley James.
She began her professional career in 1963 in Morgantown as executive assistant
to the Director of WVU Hospital.
The family returned to Huntington in 1966 and she joined Marshall
University, where she worked for 32 years, retiring in 1997.
There she played a major role in the startup and development of the Regents B.A.
program, serving as coordinator for her last seven years at Marshall.
During that time she helped innumerable adult students return to school to
initiate or complete their college degrees.
She also served as president of the Marshall University Staff Council and
sat on the Advisory Council of Classified Employees and the Institutional Board
of Advisers.
An avid world traveler, she was active with Partners of the Americas, a program
which fosters career development exchange programs between Marshall and
healthcare professionals in South America.
This led her to visit often in South America and she also hosted many
Brazilian participants and their friends in her home.
Outside of work, she was involved for more than 20 years with the American
Cancer Society, holding offices at the local and state levels and was a member
of the Board of Trustees of the Mid-Atlantic Division.
She often served as spokesperson for the ACS on anti-tobacco issues,
especially after she was diagnosed with lung disease.
She was also a longtime member of Enslow Park Presbyterian Church, where
she served on the Session and several other committees.
She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, Charles N. Raynes
Jr. of San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by a daughter, Jennifer and her
husband Frank R. Kyle of Nashville; a son, Charles S. James and his wife Michele
of New York City and New Preston, Conn.
She leaves three grandchildren, Garret R. Kyle and his wife Jennifer of Atlanta,
Ga.; Elliott R. Kyle of Washington, D.C., and Alexandra S. James of New York
City.
Her brother, Dr. Robert S. Raynes and his wife Madelyn of Palm City, FL as well
as a dear aunt, Kathleen Garrett Vance of Charleston and a god-daughter, Sarah
Beckett Boehm of Richmond, Va., also remain.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 9, 2005, at 1 p.m. at
Enslow Park Presbyterian Church in Huntington.
Visitation with the family will be held in the church parlor on Thursday,
September 8, 2005, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Cabell County Relay for
Life, c/o ACS, Cabell Unit, 1336 Hal Greer Boulevard, Huntington, WV 25703.
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