James Farrell Styron

James Farrell Styron, 89 of Davis, NC passed away Friday May 7, 2021 at his home with family at his side. 

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Davis, officiated by Rev. Daniel Melton, Rev. Jimmy Mercer, and special friend Gerry Smith. Interment, with military honors and Masonic Rites, will follow at the Oscar Davis Cemetery in Davis. Friends are welcome to attend the service. For those unable to attend, the family invites you to view the webcasting of the service through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. In keeping with the CDC guidelines pertaining to the Coronavirus, those who are ill or at-risk (elderly, immune-compromised) are encouraged to stay home. Additionally, there will be a limit to the number of people in the building at one time, as well, those who attend will be asked to bring and wear a protective mask. Help us honor the family while practicing safe measures. Friends are also encouraged to leave words of comfort to the family through the website.

The eldest of 4, James was Born to Alice and Virgil Styron on August 2, 1931.  James met the love of his life, Nadine, at Smyrna High School and they were married on October 21, 1950.    Soon after, James served in the Navy for 4 years and he and Nadine started a family with son Kenny arriving in 1952 and a daughter, Patty in 1954. 

After the Navy, James returned to Davis to start his over 40-year career in the commercial fishing seafood industry. In his lifetime he fished several vessels including the Lorraine, Gulf Stream, Ken-Pat, and Dickie Boy from the waters of Virginia south to Key West before later focusing on seafood sales. 

Beginning in Beaufort in the mid-1960s with his father Virgil, his business later migrated to Davis.  James Styron Fish Co. was a thriving seafood venture with clients all over the country and was his second home for many years.   He was easily distinguishable on the fish house dock with his towering frame, warm smile and distinct laugh and trademark pipe.  He worked alongside his son in law, David in business operations, while his son Kenny, and brother Dickie and several grandchildren and nephews who regularly manned vessels in the harbor fleet.    The “shad crew” trips employed many in the Davis community and their sets were a welcomed sight for many years on Core Sound. 

James was a Shriner and a member of the Franklin Lodge for 48 years, was a man of faith and a lifelong member of Davis First Baptist Church, loved his family and believed in hard work. He was instrumental in providing livelihoods for many, was exceptionally generous and a pillar of the Davis community.    

He is survived by Nadine, his best friend and devoted wife of over 70 years; his son, Kenny and wife Barbara of Davis; and daughter, Patty Ivester and husband David of Davis; siblings, Elizabeth Salter Ritchey, Richard “Dickie” Styron and wife Bev, all of Davis, and Lorraine Alligood and husband Leton of Skidaway Island, GA; grandchildren, Mary Ann Styron and Carrie Ann Styron and husband Vincent, all of Portland, OR, Patrick Ivester, Brent Ivester and wife Angela, Neil Styron and wife Delisa and Kiah Ivester, all of Davis, Teresa Styron Giddeons and husband Patrick of Willard, NC, Alison Styron and companion Amy Morgan of Trent Woods, and Heather Ivester of Beaufort; and great -grandchildren Carter Lewis, Camden Ivester, Nathan, Naomi, Natalie and Nadine Giddeons, Ion Harmon, Lola Raymond, Lily Styron, Landon, Skylar and Diane Ivester, Murphy and Neilly Styron.    

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Styron and Alice Williams Styron; and grandchildren, Tracy Tosto and James Ivester.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Monday, May 10, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Davis. The same safety guidelines will apply.

The family would like to especially thank his caregiver, Lois, for her care and faithfulness over the last several months, as well as the nurses with Carteret Health Care Home Health and Hospice.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers are welcome or donations may be sent to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 146, Davis, NC 28524.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC. 

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