Obituary of Christine James

God in his infinite wisdom and grace called Christine James of Ellenville home to rest. She departed this life on Friday, June 20, 2014 at the Skilled Nursing Unit at CRMC in Harris, NY at 7:30pm. She was 80. Christine was a loving wife, mother and grandmother one who always put her family first. She always gave her children an abundant amount of love and the best of what she and her husband could provide. She encouraged her children to be all that they could become. Christine and her husband, Melvin always stressed the importance of education. Christine was employed at Imperial Schrade in Ellenville for 20 plus years before retiring. Christine had a love for styling hair; so she decided to enroll at the Beauty School of Middletown to fulfill her dream of becoming a beautician. Upon successfully completing the course at the school, Christine took the NYS test and passed to become a licensed NY State Beautician. Her beauty salon was the second black owed salon in Ellenville. Christine and her husband decide to build a room in their home for her salon. She enjoyed many years "playing in peoples head" as she called it. She made many friends along the way before retiring completely in 1995. Christine was born Chadbourn, North Carolina on August 6, 1933 the daughter Alex and Daisy Mae McGrit. She was predeceased by her husband Melvin James, one brother Lavern Godfrey and one sister Betty Doris McGirt. She is survived by her brother Bo McGirt, her sister Jackie McGirt, nine children to cherish her memory; Lamar, Sandra, Tony, Steven and his companion Josephine, Rosemary, Ronald (Gloria), Renee (Harvey), step-children Duwonda (Jay), Felita (David) and Wanda, 17 grandchildren; Shawn, Stephanie, Candice, Shamar, LaToya(James), Malcom, Diamond, Jasmin, Chantelle, Courtney, Christina, Christopher, Anthony, Walter, Trey Anihia, and Junior, 11 great grandchildren Josiah, Jordin, Jace, Shamar II, Paris, Justice, Pierre, Enrique, Taliyah, TyShawn, Montayvion and a host of nieces and nephews and other close relatives and many wonderful friends. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Testament Church of Jesus Christ, 39 Clinton Ave., Ellenville, NY 12428 from 11:00am-1:00pm. A funeral service will follow at the church at 1:00pm. Rev. Ray Younger will officiate. Interment will be at Rock Ridge Cemetery, Monticello, NY. Arrangements were under the direction of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home; for further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.