Dear Dr. James,
Today I found out that you had passed away. As they say with the doggies....you crossed the rainbow bridge.
I can't tell you how incredibly sad I feel because I have not only lost the best veterinarian I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, but I feel I have also lost a friend.
You became our veterinarian so many years ago and I can't thank you enough for all that you did for not only myself, but all of my dogs and puppies that you helped take care of.
I remember the very first puppy litter that you helped me deliver. Most vets take over and don't really allow their clients to take part in many aspects of animal care, but you being the special person that you are, you taught me so much over the years and you allowed me to learn so much. The amount of time and concern that you showed to not only myself and my husband, but to my dogs and puppies over the years ....I could never repay you for.
I spoke to your wife and told her how sorry I was to hear that you are no longer with us in body and asked her how she was doing and if there was anything we could do.....I never met your family, but would gladly help them if we could.
Today, I found out where you now rest in peace and although I felt awkward about visiting you in such a place, I looked around and the beautiful Lake with the ducks wandering about, seemed so nice and peaceful. You could hear the ducks quacking and one even hissed at me as I was trying to find your area! I told my husband, that would be just my luck! Looking for my vet but get attacked by a duck instead! Your wife was able to direct me to your resting area as I had a hard time locating you. But when I did, I stopped and placed a beautiful, huge bowl of purple and white flowers that were vibrant....full of color and just absolutely lovely....just like your personality!
I stood and cried. Mostly because I will miss your friendship, your kindness and your witty words and so will my puppies and dogs.
Today was a very sad day....but as we saw where you rest, even my husband and I had to chuckle! Always the business man, even in death,
you are facing the edge of the road where many people will either walk by or drive by....just like your practice of many, many years! Good thinking, Dr. James!
I am sure that everyone of Salisbury will sorely miss you as we will and I wanted to tell the world how much we appreciate your long years of animal service and your friendship. I know that heaven sure can use you and maybe one of my dogs or puppies who has also crossed the rainbow bridge can keep you company! I thank you so much for making personal visits to my home to take care of my puppies and dogs and thank you so much for going out of your way to help me in many areas of dog ownership and breeding. Thank you for allowing me to be your assistant on many occasions and thank you for teaching me so much about many aspects of Veterinarian medicine. You were a patient teacher and loved to talk about dogs just like myself. I also enjoyed many of your animal stories and good sense of humor.
I wish I had known you were sick. I think back to the time when it was pouring down rain and we sat in my driveway inside of your truck doing the paper work on the rabies vaccines and tags. You took the time to carefully go over every bit of paperwork, not feeling rushed even though you had other places to be, as we sat and talked about dogs. I could have said more had I known we had so little time for you to be with us. I thank you for your dedication to all animals and I remember you telling me that you were heading down to help the animals in need that suffered greatly from hurricane Katrina. My husband and I had wanted to donate several thousands of pounds of dog food for you to take with you, but before we knew it, you were gone.
I don't know what else to say except that I hope I get to run into you again some day and I hope that you are at peace . It feels strange to be writing you a letter...........but I know that you can see what is going on from the spirit world and I just wanted you to know that I am sorry that I did not realize you were so gravely ill and that I was unable to visit you in the hospital when you were ill....because I didn't know. I am also sorry that I did not know you had passed away the day before my birthday....Easter weekend....as I would definitely had visited you at your memorial service. But I know that, being such a friend, you would be okay in knowing that when I did find out.....I immediately had to go and tell you in person that I was going to miss you and how much we appreciated everything you did for us while we had time to know you.
Take care, Dr. James. We will forever remember you and keep you in our prayers and our heart. I will look into the sky filled with stars and know that you are the brightest star I see!
Vocals and music by Dee Gerrish
April, 2006
ABOUT DR. TED JAMES:
Dr. Ted Lowell James SALISBURY - Dr. Ted Lowell James, 74, of Salisbury, died Saturday, April 15, 2006, at his residence after a short battle with cancer. Dr. James, a longtime Salisbury resident and a retired veterinarian, was born Jan. 4, 1932, in Fines Creek, Haywood County as the last of seven children to the late Norman Crawford James Sr. and late Nellie Green James. All his life, Dr. James lived by the values that sustained his family as farmers for generations in the North Carolina mountains: hard work, optimism, education, family and faith. Along the way he helped countless people obtain their dreams and independence, not the least of which were his children. He attended Fines Creek Grammar School before his family relocated to Statesville in 1948 and eventually opened a dairy. He is a graduate of Statesville High School, North Carolina State University and the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. His own career locally began in 1959, when he moved his young, growing family to Salisbury to practice large-animal medicine and treated pets on Saturdays in the garage of his home on Red Acres Road. In 1960, he moved his office to its current location on South Main Street and built a thriving practice as James Animal Hospital, P.A., including hiring many of the area 's current veterinarians: Doctors Rhod Lowe, Andy Gardner, Claudia Gardner, Cynthia Almond, Corrie Connolly and Rebekah Julian. Upon retirement, last year, he sold his practice to Doctors Connolly and Julian. A member and former president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, he was proud to play a role in establishing NCSU 's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. His civic life centered on his membership, since 1959, in the Salisbury Lions Club and later, on his role as a leader among Lions across North Carolina and the world. He served as president of the Salisbury club in 1976-77 and District 31-E Governor in 1981-82. Dr. James was a key advisor to the late International President Bill Woolard of Charlotte and was a Presidential Board Appointee to the International Association of Lions Clubs in 1989-1990. At the time of his death, Dr. James was involved in a project to write the history of North Carolina 's Lions and their various projects, including Camp Dogwood for the blind and visually impaired. Always a staunch supporter of leadership training, he worked with the state council to train district governors. He also served on the state budget committee. In 1982, the Salisbury club named Dr. James Lion of the Year. Seven years later, it named him Community Man of the Year. In 1985, he was District 31-E 's Lion of the Year. A man of strong Christian faith, Dr. James was an active member of First Baptist Church for more than four decades and served in various leadership roles. He most recently served as the church treasurer and as Sunday School teacher, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. Dr. James was instrumental in planning for the congregation 's growth, including the acquisition of the former YMCA property across North Fulton Street that now serves as the church 's First Ministry Center. In addition to his parents, Dr. James was preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years Joy Putnam James, originally of Calhoun, Ga.; brothers William Wilson James of Statesville, Max Ralston James Sr. of Olin; and sister Frances James Stamey of Statesville. Dr. James is survived by his wife of 13 years Nancy Jacobs James; his children Keith Allen James and his wife Lisa Moore James of Memphis, Tenn., Bruce Lowell James and his wife Stephanie Knapp James of Huntersville, Kerry James Whatley and her husband Thomas Barry Whatley of Atlanta, Joni Leigh James and her husband Mark O 'Brien Howerton of Tallahassee, Fla.; and his stepchildren Darrell Edward Whitaker and his wife Teresa West Whitaker of Taylors, S.C. and Denise Whitaker Dalton and her husband John David Dalton of Winston-Salem. He is also survived by grandchildren Allison Katherine James and Weslie Ellen James of Memphis, George Lowell James and Bruce Lucas James of Huntersville and Jacob James Whatley, Nathan Davis Whatley and Elizabeth Joy Whatley of Atlanta; John Edward Whitaker and Anna Elizabeth Whitaker of Taylors, S.C.; numerous nieces and nephews and their children; his sisters Lucy James Ferguson of Fines Creek, Hilda Pauline James of Statesville; brother N.C. James Jr. and his wife Frances James of Statesville. Services: Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church, 223 N. Fulton St., Salisbury. Rev. Kenneth Lance will officiate. Burial services will follow at Rowan Memorial Park. Visitation: Visitation with the family is set for 6-9 p.m. tonight at Summersett Funeral Home, 1315 W. Innes St., Salisbury. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Touching Tomorrow Today Fund, First Baptist Church, 223 N. Fulton St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or the North Carolina Lions Foundation, Camp Dogwood Drive, P.O. Box 39, Sherrills Ford, NC 28673; or the Humane Society of Rowan County, P.O. Box 295, Salisbury, NC 28145. Condolences may be sent to the family online at info@summersettfuneral.com.
Published in the Salisbury Post on 4/17/2006.
