Esta Mae James, 81, of Nettie, West Virginia, passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2011, at Gaslite Villa Convalescent Center, Canal Fulton, Ohio. She was born on May 2, 1930, in Ronceverte, West Virginia. She lived in Ohio for almost 40 years before retiring to West Virginia in 1989, and the last several years she spent time living with her daughters, Rhonda Swartz of Nettie, West Virginia, and Christine Garster of Massillon, Ohio. Mae was a dedicated loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt to her family. She spent her lifetime caring for others. Her hobby later in life was caring for her many pets and the animals on her mini farm. She loved all things about nature, especially bird and wildlife watching, and just enjoying the outdoors. Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Denton "Jesse" James, Sr.; a son, Robert Alan James; her parents, Thomas L. and Florence S. Brown; and a brother, Hershel H. Brown. She is survived by her children; daughters and sons-in-law, Rhonda and Bobby Swartz of Nettie, West Virginia; Christine and Bruce Garster of Massillon, Ohio; a son and daughter-in-law, Louis D. and Susie James of Nettie, West Virginia. Grandchildren; Eric Swartz and his son, Robbie Swartz; Tony and Sarah Swartz, Chelsey (Garster) Newton and Bryce Newton; and Zachary Garster and Liz Weger. She is also survived by seven sisters and their families; Opal O'Dell of Leivasy, West Virginia; Lorena Dickson of Dousman, Wisconsin; Onalea Mutter of Nettie, West Virginia; Norma McMillion of Nettie, West Virginia; Judy Bess of Frametown, West Virginia; Jeanetta Lewis of Webster Springs, West Virginia; Edith Clark of Rainelle, West Virginia. She is survived by sisters-in-law and their families; Dorothy McKenna of Christiansburg, Virginia, Frances Ingram of Douglasville, Georgia, and Donna James of Canton, Ohio. She also has many surviving nieces and nephews, who she loved dearly. There will be no local services. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at the Olive Branch Baptist Church, Nettie, West Virginia. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Nettie, West Virginia. Friends and family may call at the church from noon to immediately preceding the funeral service. The family is being served by Simon-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, West Virginia 26261. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crossroads Hospice, 3743 Boettler Oaks Drive, Suite E, Green, Ohio 44685, www.CrossroadsHospice.com; or to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018, www.parkinson.org.

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