James Davis Blount Jr.

James D. Blount, Jr., died on October 16th 2015, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by his family and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Davis Blount and Dorsey Cowherd Blount.

Jim was born in Wilson, NC on January 2, 1927. Growing up, he was an avid athlete, Eagle Scout, and skilled debater. After graduation from high school, he served in the United States Navy in 1945 and 1946. Following his honorable discharge he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1950, and the degree of Juris Doctor in 1952. In law school he was a member of the Board of Editors of the North Carolina Law Review, and during his senior year served as Chairman of the Honor Council of the School of Law. He was elected to the position of Chief Justice (President) of the U.N.C. chapter of his legal fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. In undergraduate school he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Jim began his legal career in Rockingham, NC, where he practiced for 17 years, during which time he was a partner in the firm of Leath & Blount, which became Leath, Bynum, Blount, & Hinson. Jim’s commitment to the community was evidenced by his service to many civic and community organizations, including serving two terms on the Rockingham City Council. In addition, he served as a member and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Richmond Memorial Hospital, as an organizer and first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sandhill Regional Library, and as Chairman of the North Carolina Association of Library Trustees. He was a past president of the Rockingham Rotary Club and the Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. In 1956 he was selected by the Junior Chamber of Commerce as Young Man of the Year.

Jim was dedicated to his church, the First Baptist Church of Rockingham, where he taught the Men’s Bible Class for 17 years and where he served as a member of the Board of Deacons.

In April of 1970 he moved to Raleigh and joined the firm that became Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan. In this firm his area of concentration was civil defense litigation, including insurance defense, medical malpractice and commercial litigation. Jim served as lead counsel in more than 300 civil jury trials. In 2005 he received from the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys its Award for Professional Excellence. This award recognizes members of the Association whose contributions to the profession have been truly outstanding. In 2008, the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates presented to Jim its “Lifetime Achievement Award For His Exceptional Advocacy Skills, Outstanding Accomplishments, And Extraordinary Professionalism.”

Jim was a member of the Wake County, North Carolina, and American Bar Associations. He served as a Vice President of the North Carolina Bar Association; as chairman of the Bench – Bar Liaison Committee; and he chaired the successful Centennial Endowment Committee from 1999-2001. He was a permanent member of the Judicial Conference of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, a member of the International Association Of Defense Counsel, and a Fellow and Past State Chairman of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

From 1961 until 1979 Jim participated with his close and longtime friend and former law partner, Robin Hinson, in teaching the Hinson Bar Review Course. In this capacity, it was said by one writer that Jim taught a whole generation of lawyers. By another writer it was said of him that “The number of lives he has touched through the years has been truly legendary.”

After moving from Rockingham to Raleigh, Jim participated in the social and civic life of the community. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Wake County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and was a member of the Carolina Country Club. In addition, he was a member and past president of a number of social organizations, including The Sphinx Club of Raleigh. Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed membership in the Milburnie Fishing Club. He was also a member of the Nine O’clock Cotillion Club, the Circle Club and the Saint Christopher’s Club. Jim was an active member of, and was devoted to, White Memorial Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder.

Jim’s gentle, easygoing demeanor belied a very adventuresome and competitive spirit. He went parasailing on a trip to France, drove a race car on the Charlotte Motor Speedway, loved hot air ballooning, and skydived out of an airplane at age 73 with some of his young colleagues in the law firm. He was a licensed private pilot, and one of the highlights of his life was sitting in the jump seat behind the pilot of a Concorde as it landed at Heathrow Airport in London.

Jim touched the lives of many people. He was remarkably kind and thoughtful and always dealt with colleagues and staff with the utmost respect. Jim leaves behind a loving family and a host of friends who will miss him dearly.

Jim is survived by his wife of 42 years, Linda Gholson Blount; by three children, Joy Blount Hooks, and her husband, Jim, James Davis Blount, III, and wife, Courtnae, and Charles Egerton Blount; by one stepson, Robert C. Cauthen, and seven grandchildren, Julia Swinnie, Matt(Lauren) Swinnie, Davis and Walker Blount, Tyler Kantor, Tyler and Spencer Cauthen and two great grandchildren, Reid and Kate Swinnie. He is also survived by one sister, Adaline Blount Neely, and husband, G. Morton Neely of Potomac, Maryland, and by three nieces and nephews.

Following a private burial at Oakwood Cemetery, a service of celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 21st at 1:30 p.m. at White Memorial Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends in Pickard Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Jim are asked to consider a donation to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, N.C., 27608 or Transitions LifeCare (Formerly Hospice of Wake County), 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, N.C. 27607.