Mr. G. Harris Ijames, 82, was born in Davie County on July 16, 1940, to the late Loice Alphonso Ijames and Julia Elizabeth Byers Ijames. He departed this life on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Autumn Care of Statesville.

Harris graduated from Unity High School with the Class of 1959 and went on to receive degrees from Mitchell Community College and New York University. He was a member of the Breath of Life SDA Church, Memphis, Tenn. Harris was the first African American in the Statesville Jaycees and a Mason. At one time, he was employed with WHIP radio station in Mooresville, the Social Security Office, and the U. S. Department of Labor as a wage/hour supervisor/investigator. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, motorcycling, camping, and farming.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, William Braxton Ijames.

He leaves to cherish the memory of his life his former wife and mother of his children, Dorothy Ijames; one son, Terry Ijames; one daughter, Patricia Ijames Martin; four brothers, Gerald A. Ijames of Detroit, Mich., and Leon Ijames, Rufus Ijames, and Otis Ijames, all of Statesville, N.C.; four grandchildren, Keke Dalton, Latoya Ijames, Cornelia Cooper, and Terrance Strickland; four great grandchildren, Deionna Ijames, Alayah Ijames, Reginald Ijames, and Zy’Aire Wilson; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, church family, and friends.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Palmetto Church Cemetery, Mocksville, N.C. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at the cemetery.

Visit the Book of Memories for Mr. Ijames at www.rutledgeandbigham.com.

Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary is serving the Ijames family.