Gilbert Lester James, Jr. (Buck), born June 13 ^th 1945, departed this life at noon on Saturday, March 16th, 2019. He was a resident of Heritage Grace Assisted Living facility in Spout Spring, Virginia. His father, Gilbert L. James, Sr. and his mother, Harriet Pierce James, preceded him in death. Buck leaves to cherish his memory his sister, Beatrice Pierce James and his brother, John Pierce James of Appomattox, Virginia. He had five first cousins, Charles O. and Pauline Jeffries of Graham, North Carolina, Gloria Ann Douglas of Little Rock, Arkansas, John William Pierce of Houston, Texas and Harriette James Conklin of Cleveland, Ohio. Beloved second cousins with their spouses and children are; Charles O. Jeffries III "Butch" and Beauncha, in Snellville, GA, Paula and Mike McKinney (Jordyn) in Greensboro, NC, and Dr. Rex Jeffries (Jake and Lee) in Graham, NC.

Buck graduated in 1969 from Carver-Price High School. He was active throughout high school as Vice President and President of his class. He was a member of the varsity baseball and basketball teams, but his real passion was playing the piano and being part of the Drama club. One play, in which he was the lead character at the State High School Drama competition, received the rating of "Outstanding". His great zeal for 4-H projects and activities brought him extensive local and state recognition in the areas of leadership, exhibitions at the Five County Fair of his garden products, showmanship of his purebred Duroc sow hogs and a guide to foreign visitors from Nigeria. Moreover, his personality and wit earned him a college scholarship for four years along with the privilege of serving two years as President of the state 4-H Short Course at Virginia State College.

Buck received his B.A. Degree in Vocational Agriculture from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1973. He returned to Virginia and taught Vocational Agriculture at the high school in Chatham, Virginia for nine years. Moreover, he earned his Master of Science Degree in Vocational Agriculture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia in 1975. The following ten years he spent teaching Vocational Technical Education in the local high schools in Graham, North Carolina, Hamlin, West Virginia, Trumbull, Connecticut and St. Croix, Virginia Islands.

Buck returned to the States and enjoyed the comforts of his sister's home in Chesterfield, Virginia for three years. Unfortunately Buck's declining health only allowed him to renew his faith in God and continue woodcarvings of decoy Mallard ducks. He did do some substitute teaching in the Richmond Public Schools. He felt that it was time to return to Appomattox so that he could spend quality time with his mother and check on his rental properties and do some substitute teaching in Lynchburg and a few surrounding counties. Every day he planned projects or activities that he felt would help the landscape or the home, but he was just too weak. Through it all the prayers of his praying grandmother extended to his mind and heart because he seldom complained or was uncooperative. He left this world with a slight smile on his face.