James Wynne Hart

One of Lake Junaluska’s most beloved characters and eldest statesmen passed peacefully overlooking his beloved and snow-covered lake and surrounded by family in the early hours of January 21.

James Wynne Hart, 96, was a United Methodist pastor in the Holston Conference and in addition to an entire life at Lake Junaluska served for a time on the Assembly staff in his retirement from the active pulpit. He and his beloved wife of 57 years, Frances Cobb Hart, met and courted at Lake Junaluska and it was their home and a home for the next three generations coming after them.

Frances was elected “Queen of Lake Junaluska” in 1950, following a successful campaign run by her future husband. Together, James and Frances were founding members of The Lake Junaluska Associates and in 2010 they were presented the, “Chief Junaluska Award” for outstanding service to the community.

He was well known around Haywood County, NC, and beyond for his costumed monologues of biblical characters, with over 300 performances for churches and civic groups. When he wasn’t performing biblical characters, he was for 25 years the official Santa for Junaluska at the Lambuth Inn Christmas celebrations, successfulling fooling both grandchildren in their young lives before putting them to service as elves in following years.

James and Frances were full-time residents of Lake Junaluska after retiring from the pulpit in 1996 and James died six years shy of completing a centenary at Lake Junaluska. His parents, H.D. and IIva Hart, bought the home still known as, “Sequoya,” in 1934. Lake Junaluska has now seen five generations of Harts.

James followed his father, Herbert Decatur Hart, Into the pastorate and served six churches over his 30-year career. Beginning in Vonore, Tn, he served St. Matthew’s Church in Kingsport, Tn; Simpson Memorial Church in Rossville, GA; East Chattanooga UMC; First UMC In Bluefield, VA; and Washington Pike UMC in Knoxville, TN. He served on the staff of Lake Junaluska in various capacities from 1982 to 1996. He and Frances served in special ministries for the Clyde Central UMC for many years.

He was an active Kiwanian in both Bluefield and Knoxville, serving as Bluefield club president in 1974 and being named, “Citizen of the Year” for both Bluefield and the Capital District of Kiwanis in Virginia.

He graduated from Emory & Henry College and received his theological degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He served his entire pastorate in the Holston Conference of the UMC.

He was preceded in death by his beloved Frances Cobb Hart, wife and best friend of 57 years. Also preceding him in death were his siblings, Jean Hart Inman Stewart, Dr. Joseph Tate Hart, Janice Hart Tedford.

Survivors include sons, Stephen Charles Hart and his partner Anne Rhymer of Lake Junaluska, Larry Wynne Hart and wife. Ginger Hain, of Waynesville; grandchildren Ashby Tate Hart of Waynesville and Maya Frances Anne Hart Moreau of Sarasota, FL; and great-grandsons Michael Hart Moreau and Finnegan Patrick James Moreau of Sarasota.

Services are pending. Interment will be in the spring at the Holston Conference Cemetery, Emory & Henry University, Emory, VA.

Memorial may be made to Clyde Central United Methodist Church, PO Box 8, Clyde, NC, 28721 and the Lake Junaluska Assembly, PO Box 68, Lake Junaluska, NC, 29745.

The care of Mr. Hart has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville