James Cecil Felder

Born July 18th, 1948, at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, he was a son to the late James Alfred Felder and the late Dorothy Clarissa Blackburn Felder. Following graduation from Drexel High School in 1966, he enlisted in the United States Army. After completion of his basic and advanced individual training schools he became a member of the 58th MP Company and was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. His training with the Military Police laid the foundation for the rest of his professional career.

After his service in the U.S. Army, James became a member of the Mecklenburg County Police Department in 1971. He was a 1983 graduate of the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, KY. James worked his way up through the ranks and was a sergeant when the MCPD merged and became part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 1993. He retired as a Captain in 1998.

Before his retirement James worked often in many off-duty positions, including both the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers. This led to his second career as the Director of Player Security for the Carolina Panthers in 1998. James loved his time with the Panthers and interacting with all the players, coaches, and staff daily. He treated all of them alike, whether they were superstars, ball boys or anyone in between. The family always got a thrill from pointing out P-Paw to family and friends on Sunday afternoons as he escorted more than five Panther head coaches off the field after games. Not too many grandkids can claim their grandfather was in the Super Bowl!

James greatest joy in life came from his family. He married his high school sweetheart, the former Carolyn Dianne Franklin, on January 28th, 1966. They were inseparable for almost 59 years. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and loved cheering on whomever had a sporting event, dance recital or school event. James also liked to golf and fish. While he did not score that low on the course or catch many fish, he always considered spending quality time with friends to be the greatest reward.

James rarely met a stranger and when he did, they did not stay a stranger for long. James had numerous names and depending on when and how you knew him determined what you called him. Besides his birth name he went by Jim, JC, Felder, Jami, Jamie, Sarge, Captain Felder, P-Paw, Peeps, Daddy, and Honeybun. James was blessed with many friends. He enjoyed spending time with high school friends at the “Rabbit Shack,” attending events at the Charlotte FOP Lodge, keeping up with folks over the phone and worshiping at Mulberry Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Dianne F. Felder; two children, Jamie Felder White (Patrick) of Fort Mill, SC, James Jarrett Felder (Alicia) of Mount Pleasant, SC; four grandchildren, Zachary Patrick White, Harper Carolyn Ennis, Hannah Elizabeth Felder, and Madison Allie Johnson; and three great-grandchildren, James Murray Ennis, Charlotte Ruth Nicole Thomas, and Ronan Lamont White; as well as sister, Pat Pruitt (Darrell).

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Gantt Drescher.

A service to celebrate James’ life will be held at Mulberry Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC at 11 o’clock on Friday, December 13th. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 9 o’clock in the church sanctuary. Following the service James will be returned to the area he grew up and interred at Burke Memorial Park in Morganton, NC. A graveside service will take place when the family arrives which is expected to be sometime between 2:00-2:30 PM.

For those wishing to send memorial gifts, please consider the National Fallen Police Officers Foundation, Mulberry Baptist Church, the HEARTest Yard: Greg Olsen Foundation for Heart Kids, or any Parkinson’s Research Foundation.

Online condolences may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com