James was born December 23, 1945 in Cayce, SC to the late Jimmie and Nettie Robinson Brannon. He passed away on April 19, 2016 at Providence Hospital in Columbia.

James was a member of First Nazareth Baptist Church Columbia, where he was actively involved in the Sunday School Ministry.

He is survived by his siblings: Mazie Lawson, Allen Brannon, both of Columbia, SC, Faye (Percy) Dingle of Anderson, SC and Phillip Brannon of Stafford, VA, and other loving relatives and dear friends.