DATE: Saturday, October 18, 1997            TAG: 9710180232

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: JACKSON                           LENGTH:   47 lines

JAMES W. BOONE

James Wood Boone, 72, died Thursday Oct. 16, 1997, in his home after an extended battle with cancer.

Mr. Boone is survived by his wife, Jean Chandler Boone; five children, Tim, Terry, Leigh Anne, Chris and Dock; nine grandchildren; a sister, Elsie Boone Schlaeger. Mr. Boone was preceded in death by his parents, Dock L. and Mamie Spivey Boone and his older brother, William Thomas Boone.

Mr. Boone was born in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School. He attended Elon College and Wake Forest College. He served courageously in the U.S. Army during World War II as a member of the 30th ``Old Hickory'' division in France and Germany. He was captured by the Germans in France in August of 1944 and was held prisoner of war until liberated in May of 1945.

Mr. Boone, a merchant and farmer, was the owner of D.L. Boone and Son Inc. and Boones Farm Supply, where he worked with his late father and three of his sons operating a peanut-buying, farm chemical and fertilizer business. He also owned and operated Boone's Supermarket in Jackson for more 50 years prior to leasing the building to Be-Lo in 1990. He was a member of the local board of directors for Centura Bank.

Mr. Boone was an outstanding civic leader in Northampton County and the town of Jackson. He served as mayor of Jackson for 12 years and as town commissioner for 28 years. He was an active member of the Democratic Party, serving as a member of the Democratic Party Executive Committee in Northampton county. He previously served as campaign chairman in Northampton County for Gov. Jim Hunt, as well as Loch Faircloth and Skipper Bowles. He was also a member of the North Carolina Natural Resources and Community Development Board for several years. He had been a member of the local school board and was awarded a citation from President Richard Nixon for serving as draft board chairman for 10 years. He served as a Jackson Volunteer Fireman for more than 25 years.

Mr. Boone was an active member of Jackson United Methodist Church, previously serving as a steward, Sunday School superintendent, and treasurer of the church building fund.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Jackson United Methodist Church by the Rev. Leon Fowler. Interment will follow in Jackson Cemetery.

The family will receive friends tonight at the Boone Home on Calhoun Street, Jackson. The family asks that memorials be made to either Jackson United Methodist Church, Jackson, N.C. 27845, or to Roanoke-Chowan Hospice, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, N.C. 27910. Jackson Funeral Home is handling arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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