JEFFERSON – James William Dozier, 71, entered the gates of Heaven Wednesday, April 23, 2014, following an extended illness.
Jim, a native of Itta Bena, Miss., was the oldest son of the late James L. Dozier and Annie Mae Morgan Dozier. Jim attended Itta Bena High School and was a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He retired from the Navy as DCMC. He held a Top Secrete Clearance and received the Good Conduct Award, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy “E” Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. After retirement from the Navy he taught computer science at Electronic Computer Programming Institute. He received Teacher of The Year of the four campuses. He was highly respected by his peers and students. He firmly believed in higher education and through education you could achieve the highest of goals and always told everyone to never quit learning. After retirement from ECPI he worked with Compass Technologies of Chesapeake, Va., for five years as the department dead of software and was the lead designer. He was an avid gardener and loved nature.
Jim always said he was a very lucky and very blessed man as he had a very loving family and children to be proud of and was able to make a living doing what he truly enjoyed.
Jim was a chess coach for Great Bridge High School, Chesapeake, Va., a Little League Baseball Coach, San Diego, Calif., and a Webelos Leader San Diego, Calif. He loved taking his sons and daughter fishing and camping. He loved telling them stories of growing up in the Delta of Mississippi. He loved watching his grandson, Nathan, play wide receiver in high school and for Christopher New Port University. He was an avid fan and never missed a game. Just a few months ago he was thrilled when his grandson Cole asked him to teach him how to write a computer software program and within a few days Cole wrote his first program. Jim was so happy teaching.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Martha Jane Bolton Dozier; daughter, Sara Elizabeth Seymour and son- in-law Jerry, Virginia Beach, Va.; sons, Kenneth and daughter–in-law Fleur, Jefferson, James Michael, Jefferson, and Jonathan and daughter-in-law Michelle, Marks, Miss.; grandchildren, Nathan, Brooke, Crews, Cole, and Victoria; two sisters, Annie Mary Bowers and husband Richard, Sidon, Miss., and Mary Jane Nance, Itta Bena, Miss.; brother, Henry Mach and wife Kay, Van Buren, Ark.; sister-in-law and husband Anna and Eddie Marlowe, Jefferson, Thomas Bolton, Jefferson; brother-in-law, Bill Bolton and wife Donna, Tavernier, Fla.; nine nephews; and four nieces.
Jim’s wishes were to be cremated with a celebration of life service. A private family celebration of life service was held Thursday, April 25, at Dozier’s Garden with Deacon Richard Bowers officiating.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com