The world was blessed with the gift of James Warren Coggeshall on June 6, 1948, in Gary, Indiana. From the beginning, James marched to the beat of his own drummer. He had a heart of gold and a sweet nature very rarely found in this world. Due to the sheer love and determination of his parents Alva Clifton Coggeshall of Darlington, SC and Catherine Martin Coggeshall of Gray Court, SC and Columbia SC along with his younger sister Anne Coggeshall Patterson, James lived a life full of happiness and independence that was uncommon for other “James’s” born into the world in the 1940’s.
James was loyal to the core and loved his people. Once you were his friend, you were his friend for life and he would share the news with everyone. He once even beat up a playground bully twice his size to defend his sister in elementary school.
Music was a huge part of James’s life, especially Bobby Vee, Bobby Darrin, Gary Lewis, the Big Bopper, and Elvis Presley. He didn’t just listen, but he sang along and knew every word to of thousands of songs. If you got the name, artist, or words even slightly wrong, he would quickly correct you, politely of course.
James loved the show Andy Griffith and he lived the values from this show in his everyday life, especially kindness. One of his favorite pastimes was watching as many episodes as possible. James was a southern gentleman to the core. He dressed up every day of his life in button-down shirts and dress slacks, almost always in his favorite pattern, plaid. Even in his later years, he addressed everyone as “Ma’am” and “Sir.” He loved to greet everyone by saying “It’s good to see ya.”
He moved with his parents and sister to Chattanooga, Tennessee at a young age and then moved to Pensacola, Florida. James grew up in Pensacola, Florida and attended elementary and junior high school in Pensacola before attending high school at Acadia Baptist Academy in Eunice, Louisiana.
In 1968 James enlisted in the U.S. Navy from which he received an Honorable discharge. James then moved with his parents to Decatur, Alabama where he attended Westminster Presbyterian Church and worked for over 25 years as a driver for The Medical Arts Pharmacy under the direction of Pharmacist James Arndt. His customers loved him – he was always on time, knew everyone’s name, and got the orders exactly right. Mr Arndt says that to this day many customers still ask about their friend James, even 20 years later.
James lived in Decatur, Alabama until 2004. He was very proud to purchase his first home right down the street from his sister. James attended First Presbyterian Church in DeLand, Florida. While living in DeLand, Fl. James worked at the Volusia County Clerk of the Court’s Office until he retired. He did not like to cook and loved to eat his meals in restaurants. To go out to eat with James was like eating with a celebrity. The servers knew him by name and often had his favorite meals ready for him soon after he entered – no ordering required.
James had a special bond with animals and spent hours giving them love and attention. While in DeLand, he shared his heart and home with a tom cat named Skipper (from Gilligan's island) and Jezabel, a blue-eyed white cat.
James eventually relocated to Good Samaritan Society’s Florida Lutheran Living Community in DeLand, Florida assisted by his long-time caregiver Janelle Rainoff with Home Instead Senior Care and then to Certus Premiere Memory Care in Orange City, Florida. James loved looking at books about the US states and talking with his sister Anne about his travels and hometowns of his family.
James is survived by his sister Anne Patterson and brother-in-law Pat Patterson of DeLand, Florida, niece Denise Goforth (James) of Kissimmee, Florida, niece Jennifer Goforth Gregory (Trent) of Wake Forest, North Carolina, cousins Lori Maloney (Bob), Nan Hunter Rogers, Margaret Harvey Thompson (Dan), Warren Harvey (Cathy), Bill Harvey (Martha), Eileen Harvey Bakke (Dennis), and Helen Harvey Laffitte (Tucker).
In lieu of donation or flowers, his family instead asks that you keep your eye out in the world for other people that are unique and sometimes overlooked. James would love it if you would take a few minutes to get to know them – and even better – take the time to become their friend.
A funeral service for James will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Baldwin-Fairchild Oaklawn Chapel, 5000 COUNTY ROAD 46A, SANFORD, FL 32771.
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