Mother Josephine H. Ijames

Published 11:46 am Thursday, March 30, 2023

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Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O’ Lord, truly I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.  I will sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

Mother Josephine H. Ijames was born in Davie County on Feb. 5, 1942 to the late John Henry Hall and Savanah Campbell Hall. She transitioned on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

She attended Davie County School and graduated with class of 1960.  At an early age Josephine accepted the Lord as her Savior and joined St. John AME Zion Church. Josephine Hall was united in marriage to Bishop James E. Ijames for more than 58½ years. After her marriage to Bishop James E.  Ijames she joined with her husband at Mt. Zion Holiness Church which is now Mt. Zion Community Church. She was employed at Monleigh Manufacturing Co. as a seamstress and she also served as a caregiver. Josephine and her husband were also entrepreneurs of James & Josephine Janitorial Service.

Mother Josephine Ijames was a willing worker and servant in the Holiness Church of God and Mt. Zion Community Church. She served faithfully as President of Pastor’s Aid, President of Youth & Education Department, President of the Missionary Department, President of the Scholarship Foundation, Church Secretary and Sunday School Secretary. She was a senior advisor to the church and also a Senior Mother of the North Carolina Northwestern District of the Holiness Church of God.

Mother Josephine enjoyed attending church, camping with Bishop, fishing, cooking, and had a green thumb for working in her flowers.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: her brother, James Hall; 5 sisters, Emma Hall, Pearline H. Williams, Pauline Hall, Ola Mae Ijames and Barbara Ann Bohannon.

She leaves to cherish the loving memories of her life: her beloved husband, Bishop James E. Ijames of the home; a daughter, Valerie I. Scott (Frank aka Slonie) of Mocksville; 2 sons, James E. Ijames Jr., and Jason Lee Ijames Sr. (Nicole) of Mocksville; 13 grandchildren; 7 greatgrandchildren; 2 sisters, Elizabeth Rowe of Brooklyn, NY, Mildred Kemp, Mocksville and Dorothy Graham of Winston-Salem; 2 brothers, John Thomas Hall of Brooklyn, and William S. Hall, Kernersville; 4 sisters-in-law, Rosa Lee Arnold, Apostle Nettye Ijames-Barber, Pastor Sylvia I. Mankins and Elouise I. Parks; 2 brothers-in-law, John Calvin Ijames Jr. and Jimmy Arnold; her Mt. Zion Community Church Family; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, neighbors, church family and friends.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her.

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” – Proverbs 31:27-28.