Sunshine "Sunny" Cleveland James

Sunshine Cleveland "Sunny" James, 83, of Pine Bluff, died Saturday, July 4, 2015. She was born Jan. 25, 1932 in Buckner, Ark., daughter of Uphard and Ollie Mae Nix Cleveland. Sunny was reared and received her early education in Stamps, Ark., graduating from Stamps High School in 1949. She earned her nursing degree from Baptist School of Nursing and graduated from St. Vincent's School of Anesthesia, both in Little Rock. Sunny earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Science from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. She worked as a registered nurse anesthetist in Little Rock, Kansas City, Mo., Roswell, N.M. and New Orleans, La. while her husband, William Joe James, MD, was furthering his medical education and in military service. She moved to Pine Bluff in 1960, working as a nurse anesthetist with Drs. Rice and Jenkins. Sunny was very active in the Pine Bluff community. She was a member of Lakeside United Methodist Church. Sunny was a former sustaining member of the Junior League of Pine Bluff, winning the Ella Hunn Payne Award from the Junior League in 1998. She was member and past president of the Jefferson County Medical Auxiliary, member and past president of the Bess Jenkins Garden Club, past board member of Southeast Arkansas Mental Health Center, Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Health Care Center and the Shepherd's Center. Sunny also volunteered for the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas and American Red Cross. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Joseph "Joe Bill" James, whom she married Sept. 25, 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Stamps, Ark.; and her parents. Survivors include her children, William Joseph James Jr. (Vicky) of Russellville, Lisa Ann James Gray (Mike) of Fort Smith, Jane Carolyn James Neely (Wayne) of Pine Bluff and Maribeth James Hartsfield of Pine Bluff; brother, Charles Edward Cleveland of Stamps; sister, Alice Ann Harris of Hot Springs; her grandchildren, William Joseph "Trey" James III (Emma), Jon-Ross James (Allison), Jennifer Gray Terry (Philip), Jordan Gray, Sunni Hartsfield Cottrell (Ben), Kristen Hartsfield Thomas (Clay), Mallori Victoria Hartsfield and Julie Neely Young (Rob); and her great-grandchildren, Cru, Saben, Serek and Solan; along with a host of friends and colleagues. Funeral services are 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Lakeside United Methodist Church with Reverend Pam Estes officiating. Interment will follow in Graceland Cemetery by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. Visitation will be Tuesday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. until service time. Memorials may be made to Lakeside United Methodist Church, 1500 Olive Street, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71603 or the charity of the donor's choice. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.