SUFFOLK, May 6 – Gertrude Hughes James, 97, of Suffolk, widow of John Ausbon James, died Wednesday, May 5, 2004. She was the daughter of the late Samuel Morton Hughes and Maye Wilson Hughes of Prince Edward County.

Mrs. James was a graduate of Longwood College and taught in Holland, Windsor, Clifton Forge and Suffolk. She loved children and enjoyed the many years she taught second grade at John Randolph Elementary School as well as in the Primary Sunday School Department of First Baptist Church of Suffolk.

She was a member of the Constantia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Association of University Women and the Longwood Alumni Chapter.

She is survived by her son, Rodney H. James and his wife, Linda of Richmond and their two children, Mike and Jill; her daughter, Barbara J. Brumbeloe and her husband, Ray of Marietta, GA; her son, Kent James and his wife, Meg of Williamsburg and their children, Ryan, Ashley and Mary Katherine; her daughter, Martha J. Thomas and her husband. Bill of Norfolk; stepchildren, Janet Timberlake of Harrisonburg and her husband, John and their children, Jack; John James of Grass Valley, CA and her sister, Doris Gates of Farmville.

A funeral service will be conducted Friday at 12 noon by the Rev. Dr. David H. Chauncey in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will receive friends in the funeral home following the service. Interment will be in the Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery in Rice on Saturday, May 8 at 1 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Christian School or the Lottie Moon Mission Offering, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434.

Local announcement by Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home.