NASHVILLE - James Bernice High, 83, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount. A wake will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Johnson Chapel in Nashville. A Masonic funeral will follow on Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. at Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount.

Born in Martinsville, Va., he was the son of the late James Bernice and Mary Bissette High. He grew up in the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home in Middlesex. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific and retired from Rocky Mount City Schools as maintenance supervisor.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Batchelor High, and his brother, Joseph Homer High of Naples, Fla.

Surviving: sons, Jim High (Reba) of Nashville and Joe High of Louisburg; sister, Joyce Forrester of Smithfield; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Flowers welcome or if you prefer, memorials may be made to the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, P. O. Box 249, Middlesex, NC 27557.

Arrangements entrusted to Johnson Funeral and Cremations, Nashville.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.johnsonfuneralsandcremations.com.