James Edward Morris III

James Edward Morris, III, 78 years old, of Roanoke County, passed away on January 15, 2026.

He was the son of the late James Morris Jr. and Margaret Estelle Morris from Lynchburg, Virginia. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Cornelia Thomas; and brother, LaVera Morris.

For many years, James worked at the General Electric Plant in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where communication products are manufactured, e.g., two-way FM radio and car-telephone systems for vehicles, portable two-way radios, industrial paging systems, microwave, multiplex, tone, and data transmission systems.

Later, he moved to Roanoke County and worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation in Salem, Virginia (VDOT), which oversees maintenance and construction on the state-maintained highways, bridges, and tunnels in Culpeper, Staunton, Salem, Fredericksburg, Lynchburg, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Bristol. James retired after working for VDOT for 37 years, and he made lifetime friends while working there.

Finding the words to describe James is immensely difficult. He never met a stranger, meaning he was friendly to everyone, and his laugh was contagious. He was known for touching the lives of the people he encountered and the compassion he cherished with his wife, family, and friends.

James was a professional trumpet player known for playing Taps at Military funerals with dignity in honor of a veteran’s service and commitment to their country. He also played his trumpet with a band called Rockin’ Rhythms in his teenage years. James loved walking in the local region, riding his bicycle to the Greenway and Mill Mountain, where he met many friends along the way. James' life drastically changed after having a silent heart attack in September 2015, and became homebound due to his health. Through the help of God, the Lord used Pastor Jonathan Falwell of Thomas Road Baptist Church to transform his life. James thoroughly enjoyed watching Pastor Jonathan's Sunday service program on television every week and was tremendously blessed by it.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 46 years, Alice K. Morris; daughters, Vonda (Aaron) Payne, Oterra (Vannie) Parker, and Kimberley Rice; stepsons, Donald Wayne Sowers, Jr. and Clinton Morris Jr.; sister, Monica Doyle; brother, Phillip Morris; sister-in-law, Anna (Carl) Lambert; grandchildren, Tiffany (William) Diggs, William Richardson, Ryan Monteleone, John Monteleone, Tre Monteleone, and Joshua (Karla) Morris; step-grandson, Clinton Morris Jr.; 5 great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him including Sonya Myers, Hanna St. Claire, Patrick Tackle, Don Artherhults, Donald and Tammy Campbell, Barbara Beavan, Ann Thorne, and Rick Hoosier.

The celebration of his life will take place on Friday, February 13, 2026, in the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel located at 305 Roanoke Boulevard in Salem, Virginia. The family will receive friends with a viewing beginning at 1 p.m. The funeral service will then begin at 2 p.m. Pastor Johnathan Falwell of Thomas Road Baptist church in Lynchburg, Virginia, will officiate. Interment will follow at the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens gravesite in Roanoke, Virginia.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.