Edwin Ferrell "Sonny" James, 74, of Goldbond departed this life Friday evening, March 27, 2009 at his home in the loving care of his family. Born on March 17, 1935, in Bluefield, VA he was a son of the late Kirkwood and Sybil Tabor James. He had been employed as starting gate driver for horse races.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Mary Hayes James; his sons Bradley James of New Lenox, IL and Brian James Reed of Raleigh, NC; his daughters Jan Neilson , Kimberly Ann Scanlan and Lynn Peterson all of Crete, IL, and Lisa Sorensen of Indiana; his step-sons Joe Emery and Todd Snider of Goldbond; his grandchildren Michael Shawn Nielson, Shawn Phillips Brewster, Johnny De Frank, Christopher De Frank, Sr., Randy Peterson, Nicholas James, Miranda Webb, McCoy Webb, Cheyenne Reed; his great-grandchildren Tyler Brewster, Chase Brewster and Christopher DeFrank, Jr..

Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 1:00 PM in the Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke with burial following in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday evening from 6 to 8 PM. Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.