James Elder, Jr.

Waynesville-James William Elder, Jr., age 93, of 599 Walker Road, died Saturday, December 11, 2004 at his residence. He was a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina and lived in Miami, Florida before coming to Haywood County. He was the son of the late James William and Bessie Lucille Allen Elder. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Lorna Howes Elder. He was a retired electrical contractor and a member of Grace Episcopal Church in the Mountains. He was a 32nd degree mason, past president of Mahi Shrine Band in Miami, past president of Miami Shores Kiwanis Club, and past president of Waynesville Kiwanis Club. He was an accomplished saxophonist and organist. He organized the Kiwanis band that performed at National Conventions. He also organized a senior citizen dance band that performed a variety of big band dance music. He was a member of the Winchester Creek Country Club and was bank director for a group of banks in Miami for many years. He is survived by his daughter, Lorna E. Tomaszewski and her husband, Leonard of Alpharetta, Georgia; two sons, Norton A. Elder and his wife, Pamela of Lake Lure, and Neal Elder of Lake Helen, Florida; six grandchildren, Steve, Laurie, Doris, Kathy, Patty, and Duke; and 10 great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 16, 2004 at the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Homes and Cremation Services with the Reverend Dr. Howard W. White, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the services, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644.

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