James Robert Campbell

James Robert Campbell went sliding into home plate into the arms of Jesus on Dec 29 after celebrating a beautiful Christmas with his family. His departure from the aches and pains that a lifetime toll of sports and farming took on his body came quick and unexpected but we praise the Lord for His mercy in that.

James was born January 10, 1943 to Wilbur and Doris (Dampier) Campbell of Oates Community in Lamar. He was the oldest of 3 and was preceded in death by his sister Wanda Campbell Harrison and her daughter, his niece, Annie Harrison. His loving sister Helen C Stokes of Oates has been his constant confidential informant of gossip and goings on in the community as she retired from a career in cosmetology. They spoke every night.

James married his high school sweetheart Gloria Hatchell in February 1965 and this February they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage. They have two girls, Michelle Campbell Anderson (Phillip) of North Wilkesboro NC and Stacy Campbell Byrd (Allen) of Society Hill.

They have 3 beloved grandchildren Marshall (Makayla) Anderson, Campbell Anderson, and Caleb Byrd.  James was a father figure to his sisters' children Annie Harrison, Natalie Harrison Holloman, Hoyt Harrison IV, and Heath Stokes. They began to call him BoBo as toddlers and thr term of endearment became his patriarchal name, and he became Bobo to all additional family and beyond.

In high school James was pursued by many colleges to play football but baseball became his sport of choice. He was the first student to hit a home run out of the park at Lamar High School. He was drafted straight from Lamar High School into the Philadelphia Phillies and enjoyed his sports career until a knee injury forced him into early retirement.  At that time he was part of the St Louis Cardinals. The Lamar High Athletic Department presented him with his retired baseball jersey #10 in 2015. James enjoyed many seasons playing recreational softball and coaching young athletes in the American Legion Baseball program. One of his joys was always having previous players visit and call him and express the impact he had on their lives.

After his athletic years, he became a general contractor and built their current family home place in Oates in 1977. The home place is lovingly called The Compound by his children and everyone knows he would have been happy to live all his days there with his children and grandchildren all around him every day. In his years at his "compound" he managed to form a small farm of chickens, goats, 2 horses, and the adoption of many stray dogs over the years with rescues brought home by his youngest daughter Stacy. Sometimes he would grumble at another rescue but his soft animal loving heart never turned them away and it was a special bond he shared with Stacy with lots of loved pets through the years.

After years of contracting, he took over his parents family farm upon his father's death. In later years he became employed with Progress Energy and retired there in 2001 after 15 years of service. In 2000 he accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized by his friend and pastor Richard Sawyer.

In his later years and through Christmas Eve this year, Bobo was a daily fixture at Hardee's and enjoyed visiting with friends there for hours. Members of the staff even called the family with condolences. He never met a stranger and loved the art of conversation. He even still met often with members of his high class and spoke to his best friend Jimmy Norris of Oklahoma daily.

To say he will be greatly missed is an understatement. Memorials can be sent to Calvary Baptist Church in Darlington and to the Darlington County Humane Society.