Obituary of Jodie A. James

Jodie James, 54, 4526 Gleason Road, Lakewood, lost her battle with breast cancer at 5:33am Tuesday December 10, 2013 in Lexington Medical Center, Lexington SC. She was born June 18, 1959 in Busti, a daughter of the late Arthur and Joyce Sturzenbecker Boardman. She was a 1977 graduate of Southwestern Central School. Jodie worked as a dental hygienist for 20 years, retired and served as a committed volunteer at Busti Church of God and the community in the following ways: Co-director of the Children's Ministry, Cofounder of the bus ministry, Cofounder of Praise Puppets, Founder and active leader and director of AWANA program, Founder and active leader and director of Kids Zone Ministry, Sunday School teacher, Longtime coordinator of VBS program, Wrote scripts for Christmas, Easter, and Children's programs, Interior Decorator of the church, Chairperson of discipleship, Co-writer of the curriculum for Read through the Bible in One Year, Co-director of children's plays, leader of Bible studies in her home, and volunteer elementary art teacher at Bethel Baptist School. Her main love was working with children and seeing them come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. She was a very giving and generous person with a heart of a servant. She loved to swim, scrapbook the events of her life with her family and friends and do crafts with the many children she would watch for others. She loved to talk on the phone with her daughters every day and Facetime her grandson Landon. Jodie loved to laugh and live life to the fullest. She has touched so many lives by being a genuine servant of God whose impact on others will continue throughout the generations. Her life is a true legacy. Surviving are her husband Duane James, whom she married January 7, 1979; two daughters Lindsey (James) Wiggins and Ashley (Matt) Miller, both of South Carolina; grandson Landon Wiggins; siblings Sandra (Walt) Spacholtz of Florida, David (Patricia) Boardman, Steven (Sally) Boardman, Rhonda Boardman, Michael (Justine) Boardman, & Jeffrey (Tiffany) Boardman all living in the Jamestown area and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Busti Church of God. Rev. Roy E. Ferguson and Rev Scott Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Busti Cemetery followed by a celebration of her life back at the Busti Church of God. Friends will be received for 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Children's Ministry at Busti Church of God, 996 Forest Avenue Extension, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may light a candle in remembrance of Jodie at www.lindfuneralhome.com.