James Martin North, 80, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, with his family by his side.  Jim was born and raised in Georgia, the son of the late Sam Leigh and Elizabeth Martin North.  He graduated from North Fulton High School and Emory University in Atlanta; and went on to receive his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Jim started his career in 1969 with an internship at Fort Knox, KY. In 1970 he was transferred to CONARC (later TRADOC) at Ft. Monroe and worked as a logistician. In 1980 he began work as a Mobilization Planner. He retired in 2001 as an Information Systems Officer (ISO) after 32 years of service with the Department of the Army.

Jim was a long-time volunteer for Contact Peninsula where he devoted 25 years of his time and talents.  A member of Hampton Baptist Church for 52 years, Jim relished singing in the choir and sharing his love of music.   He enjoyed photography, birding, shape note singing, and traveling, especially cruises to Alaska.   He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend and will be missed.  "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Preceded in death by his parents, and brother Robert Kendall North; Jim leaves to cherish his memory, his beloved wife of 57 years, Judy McClain North; son, James Leigh North and wife, Darlene Johnson North; daughter, Anne North Magee and husband, Ralph Magee, Jr.; grandchildren, Kendall Magee, Anna Magee, Jameson North, and Emma North and her fiancé, Kyle Mastracci; and sister, Helen Bledsoe, and husband, Bob Bledsoe.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 PM on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at Hampton Baptist Church, 40 Kings Way, Hampton with a reception to follow.  The family will receive friends from 6 – 7:30 PM on Tuesday, January 3 at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Avenue, Hampton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Hampton Baptist Church Memorial Fund in Jim's name.

Arrangements by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, www.rhaydensmith.com