The Passing of James Seymour

The Passing of Jim Seymour, a faithful Christian who always cared about others

By Larry Price

Published November 20, 2010

James Seymour, a former member of North Kingstown UMC and Christ UMC in Kingston, passed away peacefully under hospice care at his home in Ormond Beach, Florida Friday November 19th. He was 76. His long fight with emphysema and COPD and his deteriorating health recently led to the decision by Jim and his faithful friend and partner Mike Havener to seek hospice care at their home in Florida to where they had moved from Rhode Island. He will be buried in his native South Carolina. Condolences may be sent to Michael Havener, 8 Greenforest Drive, Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 (see obituary below this tribute).

Devoutly faithful throughout his life, Jim will always be remembered for his cheerful greetings and his special concern for others. He founded the NKUMC Shepherding group nearly 12 years ago, shortly after his arrival in Rhode Island, and for many years was also the chairperson for the South County Lay Speakers group, whose members included lay speakers from the United Methodist churches in North Kingstown, Kingston and Westerly. While leading those quarterly lay speaker meetings, Jim would always conclude the sessions by going around the table and asking the speakers to lift up to God the concerns for others that they were carrying in their hearts. Prayers would then be offered for all the concerns. Throughout his long ordeal with his medical problems, Jim remained cheerful, optimistic and caring.

A few weeks ago, Jim, confined to his wheel chair and on oxygen, was still able to take a vacation trip to New Orleans. Just one week ago, knowing his remaining time on earth could be fleeting, Jim wrote a touching and thoughtful note, a lesson of life, which he emailed to a large number of friends. He said death was the one thing he did not fear, because he knew God was in control. He offered thanks for the blessings of friendship and love and asked prayers for Michael:

“People come into your life for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime. When you
figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have
expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a
difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They
are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on
your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to
bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk
away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must
realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

“When people come into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come
to share, grow or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you
an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

“Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the
lesson, love the person or people (any way) and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

"It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Of all the words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these … it might have been. Thank you for being a part of my life.

“Dear friends and family,
Thank you for being part of my life. You may have heard that after my last hospitalization this spring, the pulmonologist said that with COPD and asthma,
my lungs were fragile and anything could happen at any time. The internist said that with my body organs as they were that if something went wrong with one, it
could be a domino effect. So that is where we stand (or sit or lie!).

“Anyway, I am asking for your prayers for Michael, who is and has done so much - he saw this coming and retired early when I did not see it coming this
fast - but God works at His own speed. And pray for me that the end will come swift and soon and peacefully - not that we get our wishes! Death is the one
thing I am not worried about - of course, we all hate the moment we move into Eternity because we lose control, but then we know that God is in control and
our Faith will see us through!

"Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and we assure you that you are in ours.
Love,
Jim and Michael”

To the very end, Jim Seymour carried his faith and love for others. Jim, thank you for being part of our lives, too. You and Mike are in our prayers.

Obituary, James Seymour - Published November 22, 2010

James D. “Jim” Seymour died on November 19, 2010 in Ormond Beach, FL. Mr. Seymour was born in Whitmire, Newberry County, SC on May 6, 1934 to the late Mitchell White and Mae Bell Rollins Seymour. He graduated from Whitmire High School, Newberry College (Newberry SC), spent two years in the U. S. Army and then graduated from the College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina in 1952.
He worked in drug stores in Whitmire and Easley, SC and was director of pharmacy at Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca SC. Later he was a pharmacy consultant for the Department of Health in Certification of Health Care Facilities in S. C. and went with the V. A. Hospital Systems, working in Wilmington DE, Durham NC and retiring from the V.A. in Oklahoma City in 1991.
   He was a member of the SC Board of Pharmacy from 1975 to 1981, serving as Chair in 1980-81. He was also a member of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity serving the state, district and national in various offices. He was a former member of Lions, Sertoma, BPOE, and many local, state, and national pharmaceutical associations.
He was a member of Tomoka United Methodist Church in Ormond Beach, FL and was very dedicated to his church work and had been a certified Methodist Lay Preacher in Oklahoma and New England for many years. He worked diligently in the Shepherding Ministry of his churches no matter where he was.
He was predeceased by his parents.
He is survived by his partner and special friend, Dr. W. Michael Havener of Ormond Beach, and various family members in South Carolina.
   The funeral service will be held at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home, 1724 Main Street, Newberry, SC (803-276-0610) on Wednesday November 24 at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday November 23. Interment to follow in the Newberry Memorial Gardens in Newberry.
   In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the Christ United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 1608, Kingston RI 02881.

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