Alice (Helms) James

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Alice James, a beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, who walked into the arms of Jesus on August 27, 2025, at the age of 75. Alice was born on February 12, 1950, in Darlington, South Carolina to Hazel Brown Helms and Doris Blackman Helms, where she spent her life surrounded by the warmth of her family and community. A proud graduate of St. John's High School, Alice dedicated her career to serving others as a purchasing agent at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), contributing her talents to the field of healthcare, including the Cancer Center of McLeod, for a total of 37 years of service. Her unwavering commitment to her work reflected her compassion and desire to help those in need. Alice is a member of Mechanicsville Baptist Church, where she served in the choir, as children's nursery director for over 30 years, and she also served as the church secretary for many years, creating the church bulletin before copy machines were even a thing. Anyone who remembers the sound can still hear it now of that old machine making its rotations, copying wedding programs, Christmas programs, and budget reports and Alice had them edited, typed, printed, with black ink marks on her fingers as proof. Alice is survived by her devoted husband, Gary James, of 42 years, and her loving daughter, Charity (Will) Adams, both of whom will forever carry her spirit in their hearts. She is also mourned by her sister, Jane (Ken) Gunter, brother Frank (Linda) Helms as well as her brother-in-love, Ray Graham. Her daughter-in-love, Julia (Deane) Byrd, her loving grandchildren: William Drake Adams, Jacob Zimmerman Adams, Kathryn "Kayti" Maurina Adams, and Graham (Abigail) Stuart Byrd, along with nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, a sister-in-love, Marsha Bonnoitt, and dear friend Susan Matthews, and many other loving coworkers. Alice was preceded in death by her dear sister Anne Graham, brother Bobby Helms, and her parents. Each of them will cherish the countless memories made with Alice, a woman known for carrying on her mother's tradition by creating delicious homemade cakes. Her joy in capturing memories with a snap of the camera, her ability to sew beautiful treasures, costumes, or a dozen last-minute patches on a team's baseball jerseys the night before the big game. Alice enjoyed watching the Carolina Gamecocks play ball; however, she enjoyed watching her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews play even more. She had her car packed and ready for those ballgames with a cooler of Gatorades, watermelon, snacks, and her fans to keep the gnats away! The grands always knew they could count on Grannie to have them snacks and a drink ready for the game! A visitation will take place at Mechanicsville Baptist Church on August 29, 2025, beginning at 2:00 PM, where family and friends will gather to celebrate Alice's life and share their cherished memories and other times at the home of Gary and Alice James. A funeral service will follow at the same location at 3:00 PM, honoring the remarkable life she lived and the legacy she leaves behind. Alice will be laid to rest in the church cemetery, where she will find her final peace.