James Lewis Hairston, Sr.

James Lewis Hairston, Sr affectionately known as “Chubby” was born March 28, 1954, to Nathaniel Simpkins and Thelma Hairston in Winston-Salem, NC. He was the fourth baby out of 9 children, and he swore he was the best looking one.  He was known as “Hammer” by his big brother William.

James attended Mt. Tabor High School.  After high school, “Chubby” started working at Dewey’s Bakery in 1971.  During his time at Dewey’s, he continued to work at  Baptist Hospital, now known as Atrium Health Wake Forest Medical Center, in the kitchen. Along with his various culinary positions, he also worked at Food Lion as a Cake Decorator and was the Deli manager in between the years.  James retired from Dewey’s in July 2016.

Outside of work, he loved to sing, play the guitar and his favorite song was “Cool Me Lord.”  “Chubby” enjoyed dancing and was always the life of the party. He would curse you out and hug you at the same time saying, “Don’t make me get my “Gun shooting Knife.” Family was everything to him and would brag about them especially about his first-born grandbaby, “Luch.”  He loved to cook, and nobody made Potato Salad better than him.  Sometimes jokingly, he would ban Heather and her kids from coming over to the house because they were always doing something to annoy him. He was a hardworking man.

On the night of February 12, 2024, James Lewis Hairston, Sr. took his Heavenly flight home surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. James was preceded in death by parents; daughter, Patricia “PP” Jenkins (Dec. 2023); siblings, Larry Hairston and Shelia Hairston; and granddaughter, Ja’sel Orr.

James is survived by his wife, Mary Hairston; his children, Jonathon (Lisa) Hairston, Heather Hairston, Rosalina (Tony Anderson) Lewis, and James Hairston Jr; grandchildren, Kristy (Justin Freeman) Hairston, Raphael (Jessica Thomas) Jenkins, Nakeisha (Jarini Reed) Jenkins, Raneisha (Jaise Rousseau) Jenkins, Zatie Coker, LeeElla Coker, Willie Wilds, III, Mary Hairston, Joelle Hairston, Laila Westcott, Antonio Bennett, Jr., Amani Inman, James Hairston, III, Monique Hairston, Jomessia Hairston, Jamal Hairston, Zakia Hairston and Desiree Tart; siblings, Nathaniel (Georgette) Hairston, Sr., James Isles, Jeffery Keith Isles, Nellie Mae Autry, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Princess Patterson; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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