Joseph Alston James, III

Joe spent most of his childhood in Columbia, South Carolina with his parents and his sisters, Anne and Joan. Joe graduated from Dreher High School in 1955 and went on to study at the University of Georgia. He eventually earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Modern Romance Languages.

In December 1960, Joe married Saleta Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout the 1960s, while Joe served in the United States Army, Joe and Saleta lived in Puerto Rico, California, Maryland, and New York State and Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1972, after completing his PhD work, Joe became a Professor at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina, where he worked until his retirement. Joe taught French and Spanish at Francis Marion and helped create the self-paced French program. He was active on many committees at Francis Marion and was named a Professor Emeritus. He and Saleta spent many happy years in Florence, where they made life long friends and raised their daughters.

Joe was fluent in Spanish and French and, throughout his life, enjoyed traveling through Europe and Mexico and using his language skills. He and Saleta enjoyed traveling together and continued to travel well into their retirement. Joe enjoyed watching sports, especially the Gamecocks, playing golf and racquetball, walking, working word puzzles and reading.

In 2013, Joe and Saleta returned to live in the Columbia area at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community so they could be closer to their children, grandchildren and extended family. At Still Hopes, Joe remained active and participated in the French club, played bridge and thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with friends from the Columbia area.

Joe was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Saleta, in 2020, his parents, and sister, Anne James Dixon. Joe is survived by his daughters, Almand James Barron, and her husband, Robert, of Columbia, and Alston James Meetze, and her husband, George, of Lexington; sister, Joan James Chamblin, of Columbia; grandchildren Catherine Almand Barron, of Columbia, William Seabrook Meetze, Joseph Alston Meetze and Robert Hamilton Meetze, of Lexington; and many nieces, nephews and cousins in South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky.

The family wishes to thank the nursing staff on the 6th floor of the North Tower at Lexington Medical Center for their care and compassion during Joe's hospitalization. The family also wishes to thank Solutions for Living at Home at Still Hopes for the care and compassion they showed Joe and the family.

A service honoring Joe’s life will be held in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. with a reception immediately following in the Guignard Mansion. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community in West Columbia.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.