• General Notes

  [Johnson.FTW]
  
  [1144734.FTW]
  
  Alias:<ALIA> Jimmie /Reece/, Sr.
  Cause of Death:<CAUS> Irreversible coma - due to massive intercerebral hemorrhage
  REFN: 8461
  [Peggy Reece Bruckner.GED]
  B orn at home on May 29, 1922 at 2 a.m. and delivered by Dr. George W.
  Norman, James Levi was the youngest son of Martin Luther, age 41,  and
  Ida May Reece, age 39.  One of ten children, he was known as Jimmy to
  friends and family. His dad died in January of 1930 of a "duodenal
  hemorrhage," when he was only seven.  His mother died of cancer when he
  was thirteen.
  After his mother's d eath in April of 1936, he lived with his older sister
  Dora, then 23, and youn ger sister Louise, age 11, at the family home at
  1104 Portland Street in Gree nsboro.  Sometime shortly after his mother's
  death, the family home was sold. Louise went to Greenville, S. C. to
  live with older sister Theo, age 28, an d her husband Owens.   Jim went to
  live on a farm -- located somewhere in eas tern Guilford near McLeansville
  or in Alamance County -- with the Garners/Gar dners, who were apparently
  friends of the family.  He later recalled to his c hildren how he walked
  to Greensboro when he was 16.
  In Greensboro, he lived with one of his former neighbors, a Mrs. Burrell
  S. Sykes, whom his children fondly referred to as "Granny" Sykes.  He was
  living with Mrs. Sykes at 1010 Aycock Street in 1941 before his marriage
  to Ruth Knox, and gave this as his address when he enlisted in the Army
  to fight in World War II.
  Jim's best fr iend was Rober Simmons, who married his younger sister,
  Louise in 1943.   Jim my and Rober met at church.  They later attended
  trade school together, Jim i n sheet metal, and Rober in electrical.  It
  was Louise who introduced brother Jim to her friend, and his future wife,
  Ruth Knox.  Louise was living with h er older sister, Dora, on Elwood
  Avenue, just a few doors away from the J. C. Knox Sr. family.
  Ruth saved a menu from the Grove Street Cafe on which she re corded her
  "first date" with Jimmy Reece on April 7, 1941.  They married late r that
  year, before Jimmy left to serve his county in WWII.  Rober and Louise
  were with Jimmy and Ruth on their "first date" -- and were also witnesses
  at their wedding.
  During the war he fought in the European theater, serving as a private
  with a Tank Destroyer Unit attached to the 84th Infantry "Railspli tters."
  The War was an event that changed his life.  He never completely
  re covered from the experience.
  Ruth lived with her parents while Jim was away. Daughter Brenda was born
  during the war. After returning from the War in 1945 , the family
  purchased a home at 703 Broad Avenue where they lived until abou t 1950. A
  second daughter, Peggy, and only son, Jimmie Jr., were born during this
  time. Around 1950 the family moved to 911 Neal Street.
  After third daug hter Cathy was born in 1956, the family moved to a larger
  home at 1615 Elwood Avenue, which was next door to Ruth's parents home.
  The family lived in this house until Ruth's death in 1970.
  Jim was a very talented craftsman, working with sheet metal.  He enjoyed
  taking his young family on Sunday afternoon dri ves to the "country" to
  visit friends and relatives, and to show off whatever project he had been
  working on.  These outings usually ended at Guilford Dai ry -- where he
  treated his kids to hot fudge sundaes --  a favorite of everyo ne in the
  family.
  Most of his adult life, Jimmy was employed as a "tin smith ."  He worked
  for Griffin Roofing after WWII until the early 1960s when he be gan
  working in the plant maintence department for the P. Lorillard Company.
  After Ruth's death in August of 1970, Jim lived alone at 2030 Ellington
  Stre et in Greensboro.  He was employed by P. Lorillard up until his death
  in May of 1980.
  Although he was not a wealthy man, James Levi Reece provided well for his
  family, ensuring that his four children had all the necessities and more ,
  teaching each the value of working hard and d

Details of James' family with Ruth Hunter Knox