James Edward McCoy

JAMES EDWARD MCCOY was born January 28, 1944, the first son and second child of James McCoy and Maeola Hammock McCoy. James was deceased on Tuesday afternoon, April 27, 2021. Both of his parents and a brother, Billy Ray McCoy proceeded him in death. James was born in Warren, Ark., and he spent good quality time in his early years in Wilmar, Ark., with his maternal grandparents, Law and Gussie Hammock, now deceased, and his uncles. James received his early education from the Bradley County Public Schools, Warren, Ark. He graduated from Bradley County High School in 1962 as the Salutatorian of the class. He received a Potlatch Forest Foundation Scholarship to attend college. He was a natural leader and quite a popular scholar athlete during his high school years. James played varsity basketball for the Bradley County Lumberjacks and helped the team accumulate an enviable record in Southwest Arkansas. He remembered fondly the game in which he scored 45 points. In 1996, he was inducted into the Warren Lumberjacks Sports Hall of Fame. James's family, friends and classmates of Bradley County called him "Ed" McCoy, and, of course, this followed him in college. After graduation, he went to AM&N College, now UAPB in Pine Bluff, Ark. James received the BSE degree in Biology in 1966. While on campus, he was very active in intramural basketball, always playing for Alpha Phi Alpha teams. He was the Superintendent of the John Brown Watson Sunday School, and active with the events of the Baptist Student Center. He served as the Advisor to the Student Government Association President during his senior year of college. He was a member of the "Spotlighters" drama club and a member of Alpha Psi Omega (a national fraternity for drama). James Edward McCoy and Morlin M. Carlton were married on July 2, 1966 in Marianna, Ark. They are the proud parents of three adult children, James Edward McCoy, Jr., Althea L. McCoy Fulton, and Daven J. McCoy. In 1966, he moved to Marianna, Ark., for employment. He joined the St. Luke AME Church and immediately went to work as a Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, Lay Organization President, and church announcer. After 30 years of good and faithful service at Saint Luke and the Lee County School District, James and his family moved to Little Rock, Ark., and joined with Bethel AME Church, NLR, Ark., where he was soon made a Trustee, also serving in the Choir, Men's Ministry, Organized Lay and Church School Superintendent. While in Marianna, James served as President of the East Northeast (now East) Conference Lay Organization for 13 years. He attended many of the church's local, district, conference level, episcopal level, and connectional level conferences and meetings. For the 2016 General Conference, he served as a delegate and as a member of the Episcopal Committee. For the 2020 (2021) General Conference, he was elected as a delegate and appointed to serve again on the Episcopal Committee. James was first employed in the Marianna School System where he taught the physical and biological sciences. In 1969, he was appointed as Associate Director of the Innovative Individualized Science Instruction Center. In 1975, James was appointed as Principal of Strong Middle School, Marianna, Ark., and he worked as an Administrator for 30 years in Marianna. He continued his graduate work and in 1971 and received the MS degree in Physical Science from Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. He received a MSE degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Ark., in 1978. He and his family moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 1999 and he worked as a science instructor in a program at Metro High School for eight years. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He served as a Consultant via the State Department of Education for Middle School Principals in the 1980's. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Math and Science School, Hot Springs, Ark., for two terms. James loved working with students and after 42 years in education, he reluctantly retired in 2008. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 54 years and nine months, Morlin M. McCoy; three lovely adult children, James E. McCoy, Jr. (Richelle A. Davis McCoy) of Solon, Ohio; Althea L. McCoy Fulton (Vernon Jamal Fulton) of Atlanta, Ga.; and Daven J. McCoy (Amber Booth McCoy); two brothers, Olen McCoy (Patricia) and Samuel K. McCoy; four sisters, Joretha McCoy Cooley, Betty J. Hudson (Leroy), Ellistine McCoy Alfred (Sidney), and Sonya LaJune McCoy Foote (Lavel); three special aunts, Elizabeth McCoy Baker, Christine McCoy Spencer, and Hattie Lavern McCoy Lewis; four grandchildren, Jasmyne E., Jayla E., Kordae, and Vernon Joshua Fulton; two special nieces, Rhonda and Carmen Ridgell, the McCoy nieces and nephews, the Stephens nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives. Services entrusted to G.W. Hammons & Son Funeral Home, Warren, Ark. Public Viewing and Family Hour will be held on Monday, May 3, 2021, at Bethel AME, North Little Rock, Ark., 72114, from 2-6 p.m. The funeral service will be Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, 1709 John Barrow Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204. Rev. Tyrone A. Broomfield, Officiating.