For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith—II Timothy 4:6-7 James Locke McLaurin was born on November 20, 1941 to Woodworth Wilson McLaurin and Balma Hayes Jordan in Rankin County, Mississippi. He accepted Christ and was baptized October 25, 1953 at the Church of St. Clara Parish (Woodlawn Ave.) Chicago, Illinois. He was proceeded in death by his brothers, Robert Golden and Howard McLaurin and sister, Sherille Gary. James predominantly lived in Mendenhall, Mississippi during his formative years where he attended the local schools. When it was near the time for him to attend high school, he initially attend schools in the Chicago Public School System, but graduated with from Tolleston High School Class of 1960 in Gary, Indiana. All through high school, he was a standout football player at Tolleston until he injured his shoulder and had to stop playing. He was also a lifeguard for the park district. After graduating high school, he worked at IBM where he developed computer skills. These efforts were interrupted when the Army called his number in 1963. He served in the Army from 1963 - 1967. His initial occupation in the Army was a Light Weapons Infantryman (a foot soldier). Fortunately, his computer skills gave him the opportunity to work in an office instead of the frontlines when he was deployed to Vietnam. While in the Army, he attained the rank of Specialist 6 which in today’s Army would equate to a Staff Sergeant. He received the Bronze Star for his efforts in Vietnam. When he returned from the Army, he gained employment at the Chicago Merchantile Exchange doing what he loved, working with computers. He started his career as a Computer Programmer by the time he retired from there in 2005, he had advanced to be a Senior Computer Analyst. Upon his retirement, he returned to Mississippi to be closer to his mother and the activities that he enjoyed in his youth. He was a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Geraldine McLaurin and caring father to sons Reginald (Patricia) Carter and Jonathan McReynolds as well as daughters Aurelia Jeter and Tricia Ford. James was the consummate baby brother to sisters, Helen (George) Jackson and Rose Mary (Ulysses) Livingston and big brother to Joy Ann Wallace, and Joyce Sykes. He was an awesome grandpa to his granddaughters Ashley (Tyrone) Dickens and Nikki Jeter. He leaves a host of other relatives and friends with cherished memories