James Hezekiah Sledge Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

James H. Sledge passed away peacefully at his home in Haymarket, Virginia on Sunday, June 5, 2022, with his loving wife and family by his side. Jim was the third child born to Jack and Villa Sledge on November 22, 1942 in Tunica Mississippi. His family moved to Chicago when he was two. During his formative years, Jim attended Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Chicago where he expressed his belief in Christ and was baptized. He was educated in the Chicago Public School System; graduating from Dunbar Vocational High School in June, 1961 where he received All City Honors in wrestling and All State Honors in football. In April, 2022, he received a Lifetime Achievement award from Dunbar and his picture was placed on the school’s permanent Hall of Fame Wall. This honor recognized his accomplishments as a Dunbar graduate in business administration and touches the future by encouraging other graduates to further their education with a scholarship. With his outstanding athletic abilities, Jim was recruited by Morgan State College and granted a full football scholarship. Later, he was the first student at Morgan to receive a full wrestling scholarship after winning the CIAA Wrestling Tournament Unlimited. He pledged for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1962 and was very proud of his 60 years of Devotion and Service to the Fraternity. During college, he participated in some of the nation’s first student sit-in’s and arrests as a civil rights activist. This helped change the trajectory of equal rights and opportunities for minorities living in Baltimore. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Morgan on December 18, 2015 as one of the school’s civil rights pioneers. In 1964, Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He spent most of his career working in the oil industry at Standard Oil of Indiana (AMOCO) and at Mobil Oil Corporation. He was the first minority in the Controllers Division of both companies. He advanced through the corporation and had long term opportunities to work at refineries in California, New York, Texas, Alaska Pipeline, and Zimbabwe Oil in Africa. Jim had a strong passion for family, friends (referred to as an ambassador of friendship), and sports. In later years, became a golf enthusiast. Jim met Phyllis M. Bell at Morgan, whom he married after graduation. Out of that union were born Carol Anne, James Phillip, and Jeffrey Allen Sledge. Jim was preceded in death by both parents; sisters, Alfreda, Lillian; brother, John; brother’s in law, Melvin, Leonard, James and John; nephews, Mark, Michael, Anthony.; niece Latonya. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Phyllis N.; devoted children, Carol Anne, James (Roza), Jeffrey (Grace); their mother, Phyllis M.; grandchildren James Jr., Trinity Mae, Aya, Jeff Jr., Declan, Asher; sister, Frankie; sister’s in law, Mary ,Joyce, Priscilla (Larry), Sandy (Ken); brother in law, Charles; nieces Shernita (Brian), Dawn (Sam), Shenitia, Dacia (Joe), Pam (Mike), Kayla (Daniel); Amy (Richard); nephews Melvin Jr., Karl, Brendon, Jeff (Lindsay), Jason, Sean, Marcel, Frank; and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, fraternity brothers, and friends from around the country. A celebration of Jim’s life will take place on Saturday, June 18, at Pierce Funeral Home 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110. Viewing: 1:30 pm Service: 2:45 pm In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name may be sent to the Dunbar Alumni Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1934, Calumet City, IL 60409, or via their website: www.DunbarASP.org

James Hezekiah Sledge

November 22, 1942 - June 5, 2022