Adolphus James

Rolston Hickford Adolphus James was born on July 31st, 1954, in Piggott's Village, Antigua. He died in the early afternoon of January 20th, 2021. Adolphus is preceded in death by his wife, Mable James. He is survived by his son Hayden James and his daughter Ahneva Massiah. He was the son of the late Joshua and Florence James. He is survived by his brothers Archibald, Frank, Kenroy-Vernon, and Charles. And by his sisters Pamela and Sonia. He had two deceased siblings, one sister Emelda James and one brother Jothan James. Adolphus came from a musical background; his father Joshua made and played steelpans, played the banjo and guitar with his band. This no doubt influenced his love for music, but he particularly loved to whistle. Over the years, many have commented on his melodic whistling; it was such a part of him that he often didn't even realize he was doing it. From the age of 8, he started learning steelpan. He played Treble Lead pan, everyone else left their pan at the school after practice, but he never left his. He lugged it the 3 miles it took to walk home from school, polished it, and kept it under the bed at home. Adolphus played as a lead tenor with the Rising Sun Steel Orchestra and by far, he was the youngest member of the band. Some of these recordings are still available today. In his early teenage years, he learned trade at an auto mechanic shop where he learned to repair vehicular engines. After graduating high school, Adolphus started working with Antigua Catering, which served airlines such as Pan Am, Air Canada and Eastern Airlines. Antigua Catering sent him to Canada to be trained at an Air Canada's Flight Kitchen. Upon his return, he was made the supervisor for all Air Canada's Airline catering services. He no doubt sharpened the cooking skills he learnt from his mother. He loved to cook and for years, he served as food service overseer in the catering section for our assemblies and conventions. In his early teen years, his mother started studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. She would take all her children, including Adolphus, to the meetings and when she qualified for preaching from door to door, he would also accompany her. His love and faith for his God Jehovah grew so much that he dedicated his life to him and got baptized on January 1st, 1972. Adolphus got married to Mable on December 27th, 1975; 4 years later, their first child Hayden was born. He worked as a senior inspector at Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board for many years, but he resigned to pursue spiritual goals. Adolphus and Mable regular pioneered together for about nine years. He would support them by starting an international import business, but he was best known as being one of Jehovah's Witnesses, as he would always make time to witness to even his clients. Adolphus served as a congregation elder and as a member of the then Leeward islands branch committee of Jehovah's Witnesses in Antigua for many years. In 1997, while doing substitute circuit work, Adolphus and Mable got the exciting news that they were expecting again! This time they had a girl and named her Ahneva. Sadly about 11 years later, his wife of 33 years passed away in 2009 after battling cancer. Adolphus then became father and mother, especially to Ahneva, being only 10 years old at the time. For the past five years, Adolphus lived in Bird Rock, St. Kitts and Nevis, where in that short time, he made hundreds of friends both spiritually and secularly. Adolphus will truly be missed by all of us for his captivating smile, hearty laughter and loving spirit!