Obituary of Eleanor-Patricia James

Eleanor Patricia Jones James, 81, died peacefully on September 26, 2014 after a month-long stay in the loving care of Ogeechee Area Hospice. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 57 years, Origen J. James, Jr.Ellie retired from Georgia Southern University after teaching English to many generations of college students. She was proficient at almost everything she attempted (except math and driving). She was an amazing seamstress and gardener, played a mean bridge hand, designed house plans in her spare time, and other dancers would clear the floor to watch her cut a rug. She played the French horn in her high school marching band and piano for most of her life. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of many subjects and was frequently consulted on the subjects of manners and music.Ellie was born in Itta Bena, Miss. on March 19, 1933, the oldest child of Agnes and Mitchell M. (Mac) Jones. Eleanor, as her family called her, joined her parents and brother in Eagle Lake, Texas when she was 13 after spending World War II in the care of her aunts in Jackson, Miss. She graduated from Eagle Lake High School as salutatorian of the class of 1950. She attended college at the University of Texas, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and she also attended Bellhaven College in Jackson, Miss. She left college to marry Ori when he was called up for overseas military duty in Korea. She served as the secretary of her high school while she waited for Ori to return. The couple then moved to the Hacienda Laguna de Cauquenes, Chile, where Ori worked in his father's business and Ellie learned to cook on a wood stove. Their first daughter, Ori Jean, was born during their time in Chile. After Ori's father died, the family returned to the US and settled for a time in Bryan, Texas, where their second daughter, Laura Ann was born, then moved to El Paso, Texas, Roswell, N.M., back to Bryan, Lubbock, Texas, Statesboro, Ga, Omaha, Neb. and finally, in 1974, returned to settle for good in Statesboro. Ellie made every home the family lived in lovely and welcoming, and she was a frequent and accomplished hostess. During all these moves, she found time to finish her BA at Texas Tech University, earn an MA from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and become a teacher. She and Ori retired together in 1993 and enjoyed many years traveling the world and volunteering in their community. She was a devoted nurse to her beloved Ori in his final years.She is survived by her daughters, Jean James of Statesboro and Laura (Kevin Costello) James of Summerfield, N.C., her granddaughter Amy (Joel) Wright of Statesboro, five great-grandchildren, her namesake Ellie Jane, Lucy, Lizzie, Jack and Henry Wright of Statesboro, and her brother, Walter (Barbara) Jones of Horseshoe Bay, Texas.Visitation will be held at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1 and a memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Statesboro at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 2. Donations to Ogeechee Area Hospice, First Presbyterian Church of Statesboro or Habitat for Humanity are requested in lieu of flowers.Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.Statesboro Herald, September 28, 2014Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.