James, Edwin Ferrell

Edwin Ferrell (Sonny) James, 74, of Goldbond, departed this life Friday evening, March 27, 2009 at his home, in the loving care of his family. Born on March 17, 1935, in Bluefield, Va., he was a son of the late Kirkwood and Sybil Tabor James. He had been employed as starting gate driver for horse races.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Mary Hayes James; his sons, Bradley James, of New Lenox, Ill. and Brian James Reed, of Raleigh, N.C.; his daughters, Jan Neilson, Kimberly Ann Scanlan and Lynn Peterson, all of Crete, Ill., and Lisa Sorensen, of Indiana; his stepsons, Joe Emery and Todd Snider, of Goldbond; his grandchildren, Michael Shawn Nielson, Shawn Phillips Brewster, Johnny De Frank, Christopher De Frank, Sr., Randy Peterson, Nicholas James, Miranda Webb, McCoy Webb, Cheyenne Reed; his great-grandchildren, Tyler Brewster, Chase Brewster and Christopher De Frank, Jr.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 1 p.m. in the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke, with burial following in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.