James Wendell Brookshire

Franklin, NC - James Wendell Brookshire of Annandale, Virginia, Nags Head, North Carolina and Maui, Hawaii, passed away at INOVA Alexandria Hospital on March 24, 2008, at the age of 82.

Visitation will be at Franklin United Methodist Church, Franklin, North Carolina on Saturday, April 5th at 10:00 AM, with funeral services following at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery with military honors.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Potts Brookshire, daughters Saundra Brookshire and husband Anthony Pagan of Nags Head, North Carolina and Alisa Brookshire and husband, Leo Snead of Richmond, Virginia; grandchildren, Morgan Myshin of South Lake Tahoe, California, Logan Snead and Makenzie Snead of Richmond, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Clinton, Hoyt, and Harold Brookshire, and by his sister Lucille Ramey. He is survived by his youngest brother, Dennis Brookshire and three sisters, Virginia Smith, Barbara Kelley and Ivy Underhill, in addition to 15 nieces and nephews.

Mr. Brookshire, like many patriotic young men during World War II, left Franklin High School to join the U.S. Navy. He was chosen to be part of a very elite group who plied the waters of the Pacific on the USS Spearfish (SS-190). Although he never talked about it, he even found time while in the U.S Navy to become a Golden Gloves boxer of the submarine fleet.

Upon his return from the military, he graduated from Western Carolina University. He taught school in Fairfax County Public schools for several years before becoming a builder of fine homes in Northern Virginia. He, his wife, children and grandchildren spent many hours together at the beaches in Nags Head, NC and Maui, Hawaii. They traveled extensively throughout the world.

An online condolence is available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.