Funeral services honoring, James Ernest Files, Jr. will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, December 19, 2024, at Northminster Church in Monroe. Officiants will be Dr. Mark Fenn and Rev. Jillian Hankamer. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe. Interment will follow in Oak Ridge Baptist Cemetery in Oak Ridge, Louisiana under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Home Monroe.

James Ernest Files, Jr. was born on May 2, 1932 and was called home to the Lord on December 13, 2024, after 92 years of abundant living.

Born during the worst year of the depression, Jim never knew the deprivation of material goods as he was blessed with an idyllic childhood surrounded by family and friends in the village of Oak Ridge, LA. Jim graduated from Oak Ridge High School and attended LA Tech where he obtained a degree in Business Management. Jim joined the Air Force after college and was trained as a pilot. He was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska and was always extremely proud of his military service.

Jim began working for Central Bank in 1957. In his role as a senior vice-president, his jovial nature and his lending practices enabled many members of the community to advance their personal goals and dreams. His management skills and willingness to serve others impacted both his employees and customers alike.

Upon retiring from Central Bank, Jim followed in his mother’s footsteps and joined the postal service. He enjoyed his tenure as a rural mail carrier as it allowed him time to experience the beauty of the back roads of Louisiana. As an avid gardener, Jim always felt more at home outdoors.

Other than his family, Jim’s passion was traveling. Every summer he prepared the camper, and for at least a month, the family toured the nation he loved so well. Because of his generosity and willingness to listen to endless complaints regarding time in a car, his family has visited or at least passed through all 50 states. Jim also was able to travel abroad and tour his ancestral land of Scotland. Rarely was he seen without his American and Scottish Flag pins on his lapel.

Jim was an active member of Northminster Church until the time of his recent illness. He served proudly in many roles within the church including teaching Sunday school and leading the Coordinating Council. Prior to his role as a founding member of Northminster, he served as a deacon and high school boys’ Sunday school teacher at Parkview Baptist Church. From childhood, Jim loved the Lord and taught his daughters and granddaughters the love of Christ and how to show that love to others.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging for bread. He is ever merciful and his descendants are blessed.” Psalm 37:23-27

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Files, Sr. and his mother, Marion Taylor Files. Jim was an only child, but he was also preceded in death by his close cousin that he considered a brother, Jack Files and his wife Betsy. Left to cherish his life and legacy are his wife of 64 years, Joyce Lanier Files; his daughter Ann Files, his daughter Nancy Files Counts and her husband, Jeff and their daughters Katie and Caroline; and numerous cousins he dearly cherished.

Memorials may be made in Jim’s honor to the Salvation Army or to Northminster Church.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of James Ernest Files, Jr., please visit our Tribute Store.