Doug was born the fourth child to Milton and Lennie Mayfield. James, known to all as Doug, had 4 siblings, Helen, Bernice, Melvin, and David. He was blessed to have had such a loving and caring family that originated in Newsoms, Virginia, a place he loved and where he pursued the rich history of his ancestors.
Doug graduated from Eli Whitney Vocational High School in Brooklyn where he was recognized as an excellent athlete winning medals in track and field. His excellence was showcased when he was invited to participate in the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Doug was very popular in his school and enjoyed learning about his heritage. He was appointed president of his high school African American Studies program.
At the age of 17 his family moved to St Albans, Queens where he met the love of his life, Joyce Cromer. Doug and Joyce married on December 30, 1964. They moved to Kew Gardens and started a precious, long life together for the next 60 years. That life included a family. Children, James Douglas Jr.(deceased), Nicole Stephanie (deceased) and Bryan Keith. A few years later he and his family moved to Freeport, Long Island.
Doug was always very creative and was driven by a spirit of entrepreneurship and strong work ethic. It was this spirit that guided him into so many endeavors. He designed clothing, along with his sister, Bernice, produced, and organized events and shows for talented singers. He had a record/beauty supply shop. He opened a shop named Expressions, where he hired neighborhood talent to provide them a career path to design original airbrush painting on clothing, jackets and murals. In business and in his personal life Doug was a private genius.
After working for an advertising company for many years, he took college courses in graphic design and then went on to what was his biggest accomplishment, starting his own very successful graphic design business in Manhattan creating advertising for large companies including his number one client, Clinique.
He had a great love of family, family history and family reunions. He was president of the Mayfield family reunion committee. He wrote and produced the family newsletter. He was the main organizer of the family reunion for many years. Doug was famously known as Old Country Boy within the family on account of his love for spending his summers in the “old country” in Virginia. He was a mentor to his grandchildren and to his neighbors’ children who affectionately called him grandpa.
Loving, supportive, full of great ideas, a great sense of humor, very spiritual and loved God, when spending time with him you always knew you would feel loved and supported and would laugh until it hurt.
Doug was predeceased by his parents Lennie and Milton, his eldest son Doug Jr., daughter Nicole and sisters Helen and Bernice.
Doug is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, son Bryan, daughter-in-law, Edna, grandchildren James and Melissa, two brothers and their wives, Melvin and wife Rose and David and wife Lola. He will be lovingly remembered by a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A visitation for Doug will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W Williams St, Apex, NC 27502, followed by a memorial service at 12:00 PM.
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