Wilzetta Faye Holmes
If you answer the phone and the caller asked, “is your refrigerator running?”, don’t answer, “yes.” If you do, James Jones would say, “You better go catch it.” This is what we remember most about James, his humor.
I came from the farm community of Sand Creek, just outside of Boley, Oklahoma to Tulsa Booker T. Washington High School, and James became my first and best friend. We ran track together, but I could not march him on the wrestling or swim teams.
He encouraged me to come to Compton, California to attend Compton Community College with him just after high school graduation. I was injured in track and lost an opportunity for a scholarship. We got an apartment, worked at the factory at night and on the bowling team after the shift ended at midnight. Once we got hustled by a bowling pro who let us win two games before doubling our money and losing.
We were missionaries at Compton Zion Baptist Church with 30 plus other youth. James met his future wife, the gospel singer Marian, and I met my future wife Paulette, Miss. Watts, and our time together ended quickly like the Lion King song. We both went into the U.S. Marine Corps. I got out and finished college, but James was unfortunately sent to Viet Nam where he sustained a lifelong leg injury.
God, take care of my best friend.
Dasol Mashaka
AKA -Doyle McGee BTW 1962
