James Sherrell Black, 96, of Sweet Home passed away Sunday. He was born in Miami, Florida. He was adopted by Claude and Lessie Black at the age of three months and moved to the West Virginia and Ohio area. Jim became a part of a family of seven sisters, one brother and three grandsons.

Jim joined the United States Army Air Corp (now the United States Air Force) in 1945. He did basic training in Sheppard Field, Texas after which he was stationed at Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington.

In the fall of 1946, he enrolled at Pacific Bible College (now Warner Pacific University) in Portland where he met his soon to be bride, Shirley Mabee, who was a resident of Sweet Home. The couple married in 1951 and moved back to Sweet Home in 1953 where they raised their family of three children. Jim and Shirley were married for more than 70 years until Shirley’s passing in 2021.

Jim’s firm faith in Jesus guided him until the very end. Even at 96, in failing health, he was leading weekly Bible Studies at Wiley Creek Community, and witnessing to staff and caregivers about the reality of Christ in his life. During all too frequent visits to the hospital’s emergency department, he would often sing hymns in his hospital bed and pray with staff, touching untold lives along the way. As his grandson noted, Jim “left behind a very special legacy.”

Jim is survived by sons: James Stanley Black, Richard Black; daughter Thema Black; grandchildren: Rebecca Black, Shiree Farmer, Lindsey Black, Alex Black, Faith Thomas, Christian Black; five great grandchildren: Anderson Farmer, Sydney Farmer, Parker Black, Amelia Black and Devon Black.

Memorial service will be 2:00 pm Tuesday August 29th at Sweet Home Evangelical Church.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com