Freeda James

A service for Freeda D. James was held 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 03, 2015 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation was Thursday from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Another visitation was held one hour prior to the service. Pastor Chris Tjapkes of the First Baptist Church in Perry provided words of comfort. Honorary bearers were: Estelle Padgett, Norma Galvin and Garlin Ward. Casket bearers were: Jason James, Caitlin James, Sean James, Heather James, Joseph James and Denis James Jr. Recorded music selected was Precious Memories and Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Interment took place at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines, Iowa. Freeda D. James, 89, was born in Waldron, Arkansas on October 23, 1925. She was the eldest of seven children, 5 girls and 2 boys. Freeda met Claude James in Mena, Arkansas in October of 1943 and they married in December. In their early years they moved several times, eventually settling in Chicago. Together they raised two children. Their daughter Cindy was born in 1950 and their son Denis in 1953. Claude retired in 1985 and upon Freeda's retirement from Regular Baptist Press, Schaumburg, Illinois, in 1990, they relocated to Perry, Iowa. While in Perry, their son Denis and his wife Jolene increased the family with a daughter and three sons. Denis' oldest son also lived with them. Freeda was a member of the First Baptist Church in Perry. She became a resident of the Perry Lutheran Home in 2012. Freeda was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Lora Ward, husband Claude James, an infant daughter, sisters Ruth Hughes and Jo Leatherman, and brother Jimmie Ward. Freeda is survived by her children Cindy James and Denis James (Jolene) both of Guthrie Center; grandchildren: Jason, Caitlin, Sean (Heather), Joseph and Denis Jr.; sisters: Estelle Padgett of West Dundee, IL and Norma Galvin (James) of Huntley, IL; brother Garlin Ward (Pauline) of Frankfort, IL; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.