Sept. 30, 2006 — The man who became known as the voice of St. Croix and for his blunt but genteel manner received a hero's send-off Saturday.
Gerard Luz A. James' flag-draped coffin was flanked by National Guardsmen — including Adjutant General Col. Eddy Charles — who served as pallbearers during a funeral with military honors at Holy Cross Catholic Church. An overflow crowd spilled out into the churchyard.
James was 80 when he died of natural causes on Sept. 17, and throughout the two-hour ceremony Saturday those who paid tribute remembered him as a man who did much for the community he loved and did it so quietly that some of his many accomplishments came to light only after his death.
James is a former senator, lawyer, disc jockey and biology and chemistry teacher, and he once served as assistant principal of Lew Muckle Elementary School. He was also a businessman, purchasing WSTX radio in 1970 and running it into the 21st century before it changed ownership. During the years he owned the station, much of St. Croix would tune in each Saturday to listen and offer commentary during call-in segments of "Community Digest," his nephew Lenny James said during the eulogy.
Gerard James was also the first adjutant general of the V.I. National Guard and the first man of color to hold the position. On Saturday, his pallbearers hailed from the V.I. National Guard, led by Charles, the current adjutant general. Before the funeral ceremony got underway at 11 a.m. Saturday, mourners got a chance to bid a last farewell to the elder statesman. James' body lay in state at Government House before his casket was brought to Holy Cross, where James received a farewell with full military honors.
Funeral attendees included people from all walks of life, many representing professions in which James had worked. Several lawyers, politicians and businesspeople were present Saturday, along with friends and relatives. Politicians and political aspirants mingled with other mourners as they paid their last respects, including Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards and Delegate Donna M. Christensen.
A son also paid tribute. Dr. Kelsey James made the somber crowd burst into laughter more than once as he detailed life with a father who always taught his children to take the high road when others treated them unfairly.
"To whom much is given, much is expected," the elder James would tell family and friends, Kelsey James said.
The elder James worked tirelessly behind the scenes, especially as a Catholic, becoming the first scoutmaster and founder of Boy Scout Troop No. 151 at the Holy Cross Church. James also played an instrumental role in establishing the St. Croix Junior Chamber of Commerce.
On Saturday, three priests and a Bishop — including Father Cecile Corneille and Father James Gaddy — took turns with various facets of the funeral. With the church pews packed, many stood outside, including Police Commissioner Elton Lewis, Territorial Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. and U.S. Marshall Conrad Hoover. Others sat under tents set up in the courtyard. Placid Pharoah and former Sen. Arturo Watlington, who live on St. Thomas, decided to make the trip, as did others in the crowd.
"He was a funny man," said Pharoah, whose son is married to James' granddaughter Jennee. Pharoah said he admired James' blunt stance even when others may not have.
"He was a very popular guy," Pharoah said. "Everybody has their own style and his was to say what was on his mind."
Following the ceremony, the crowd followed the hearse on foot to the nearby Christiansted Cemetery, where James was buried. National Guardsmen removed and folded the flag draping his shiny mahogany coffin and presented it to James' wife, Asta.
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