James Stephen Roye

James "Jim" Roye

September 5, 1925 - June 22, 2025

James "Jim" Roye began his life's journey in the small town of Smoots, Virginia, where he was born to James Edward and Viola Young Roye on September 5, 1925. Known to family and childhood friends as "Jimmie," he was raised with the timeless values of resilience, purpose, and service that would become his compass through life's greatest challenges.

Service and Education

At 18, fresh from Union High School in Bowling Green, Virginia, Jim answered his country's call, joining the U.S. Navy in 1943. During two and a half years of service in a segregated military, he confronted the systemic barriers of Jim Crow. Serving his country while enduring discrimination, he learned early that he would have to be twice as good to get half as far—a lesson that forged the unwavering sense of duty that defined his life.

Following his honorable discharge in spring 1946, Jim pursued higher education at Virginia State University. There, fate delivered his greatest blessing: in fall 1946, he met Joanna Boyd, the love of his life, whom he would affectionately call "Joe." Their four-year courtship culminated in marriage in spring 1951, creating a partnership that would ground him through every adventure ahead.

Jim graduated from Virginia State University in 1950 with a major in Animal Husbandry, completed ROTC training, and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. His early career included three years as an instructor in the Institution on Farm Training Program, where he shared his expertise and passion for agriculture with the next generation.

In fall 1953, driven by intellectual curiosity, Jim was admitted to Michigan State University to pursue his Master's Degree in Animal Husbandry—a significant achievement when most predominantly white universities still excluded Black students.

Family and Career

His advanced education opened doors to a teaching position at Fort Valley State University in Georgia, where he and Joanna began their family with three children: Regina, James Jr., and Ronald. Jim took immense pride watching his children flourish—Regina earned her PhD and built a distinguished career in education, James exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit that led to several successful businesses, and Ronald excelled in engineering as a tool and die journeyman.

In 1959, Jim accepted a management position with the Kroger Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, marking the start of his most significant professional challenge. Over the next 33 years, he navigated the retail grocery industry as one of few Black leaders, consistently turning around underperforming stores and transforming them into profitable operations. His leadership spanned both frontline management and strategic merchandising at the division level, earning him a transfer to the Michigan Marketing Division in Livonia.

Every day in corporate America, Jim's character was tested. He didn't just break barriers—he dismantled walls of institutional racism and forged paths where none existed. With quiet dignity and relentless determination, he overcame systemic oppression to build a better life for his family.

Faith and Service

Through every trial, Jim's faith remained his steadfast anchor; he consulted with the Lord daily through prayer. After relocating to Silverton, Ohio, he found a church home at Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church, where he began a lifelong ministry of service as a Deacon and Elder. He continued this commitment at Calvin West Presbyterian Church in Detroit and later at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Livonia.

His commitment to service extended into his Masonic work, where he rose to Master Mason in Welcome Lodge #123, earned the 32nd Degree, and became a Noble of the Mystic Shrine—adding a profound dimension of brotherhood and leadership to his life.

Adventures and Legacy

Jim embraced adventure and shared his passions with his family. His love of the outdoors manifested in hunting expeditions from squirrel hunting in Albemarle County, Virginia, to duck hunting in Windsor, Canada. He was an avid fisherman and NASCAR enthusiast, with regular trips to Michigan International Speedway becoming a cherished family tradition.

Perhaps most memorable for his children, Jim used camping to broaden his family's horizons. These adventures took the Royes to both sides of Niagara Falls, Expo 67 in Toronto, Mount Rushmore, and South Dakota's Badlands. These trips reflected his belief that life should be lived fully, with no crumbs left on the table.

Jim became a bridge between worlds—a master of both the segregated society in which he was born and the integrated world he helped create. He was a contributor to the bridge generation, helping pave the way for every generation that followed. His achievements weren't just personal victories; they were victories against a system designed to ensure his failure.

Final Chapter

Jim's journey of nearly a century came to its peaceful conclusion at his home on June 22, 2025, just 75 days before his 100th birthday—a testament to a life lived with purpose, integrity, and love. He was preceded in death by his beloved Joanna, whose partnership had been the cornerstone of his life for over seven decades.

He leaves behind his children Regina Diane Biggs (Gerard), James Stephen Jr., and Ronald Edward (Diane); his grandchildren James Brandon, Brittany Elaine Todman (Lucian), and Jaime Reneé; his great-granddaughter Harlow Raye Todman; his brother Nathaniel Davis (Edna Mae); and nieces Angela (James), Audrea, Michelle (Butch), and Stacey (Roy), along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will carry forward his wisdom and warmth.

Jim Roye was more than a member of America's Greatest Generation—he was a Black man who refused to let a segregated society define his limits. He embodied authentic manhood: protective yet kind, ambitious yet humble, strong yet compassionate, determined yet gracious.

Jim broke barriers once thought unbreakable, doing so with a quiet dignity that spoke louder than any protest. He approached each day with intention, embraced every opportunity, and left this world having truly savored all that life had to offer. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the family he nurtured, the faith community he served, and the examples he set of a life well-lived.

James "Jim" Roye completed his life's journey with honor, leaving behind a roadmap for how to live with purpose, overcome adversity, and serve others—a true hero who earned his place among those who changed the world simply by refusing to accept its limitations.