Rev. William Kenneth (Ken) James

Kenneth James (more well-known as Bro. Ken) was born on October 5, 1936, in Thornwell, Louisiana to William Oliver and Olivia James. He attended Reagan High School in Houston before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Tx.  He then earned a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Tx.  Over the course of 41 years in the ministry, Ken pastored 6 Texas Baptist churches in Pine Island, Magnolia, South Houston, Midland, Rosenberg and Hillsboro.  He also served 15 years as a chaplain for Hillcrest Baptist Hospital in Waco, Tx. A lifelong Texas Baptist, Ken served many years on the Executive Board for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Christian Life Commission.  He also served on the Board of Regents for Hill College in Hillsboro, Tx.  Ken was a member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church where he was a longtime Sunday School teacher, a member of the Senior Adult Choir and served as Minister to Senior Adults. Ken married Patricia Ann Williams in 1958 and together they raised 4 children: Steven, Tammy, David, and Jeff.  Last June Ken and Pat celebrated 63 years of marriage together.

Ken James passed from this life to his eternal home in heaven on Thursday, February 3, 2022.  He is survived by his wife, Pat James; his four children, Steven James and his wife Katherine, Tammy Benton and her husband Gary, David James and Jeff James; his brother, Richard Hart, and his wife Jan; and by four grandsons, Scott, Eric and Reid James and Taylor Benton as well as 12 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, February 7, 2022, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, Texas with Rev. Josh Vaughan and Dr. Clyde Glazener officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 1:00-2:00 pm at the church. He will lie in state from 9:00 am -7:00 pm Sunday February 6, 2022, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. Burial will be held at 10:00 am Friday, February 11, 2022, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Memorials may be made to Columbus Avenue Baptist Church Senior Adult Ministry 1300 Columbus Ave. Waco, TX 76701 or Hillcrest Baptist Pastoral Care 100 Hillcrest Medical Blvd. Waco, TX 76712.