Emma Jane James

Appalachia, Virginia Emma Jane (Wright) James, 87, passed away at Norton Community Hospital on March 14, 2026. Emma Jane was born in Stonega, Virginia on February 4, 1939. She was a graduate of Appalachia High School (Class of 1957) and Mountain Empire Community College (Class of 1975). She was the first student to ever enroll at the college. She graduated with honors, earning the Business Management Award. She was her high school class poet and editor of the college newspaper. After graduation, she was employed at Central Supply of Westmoreland. Emma loved to read, write stories, poems, and work crossword puzzles. She enjoyed playing card games especially with her grandchildren. She enjoyed fishing, walking, picnicking, and we can’t leave out those scratchers! She was the author of “Glimpses of Appalachia’s Past” and “As We Were”. She sold out of her books and proudly did a reprint of “As We Were”, which sold out at Appalachia Railroad Days. She also wrote two children’s books, “A Surprise for Santa” and “A Fish Wish”. Her proud grandchildren would take her books to show and tell days and would read them aloud to their classmates. She was humbled by this blessing of writing and donated many of her books to schools and regional libraries of Wise County, VA. She was of the Methodist faith and was a member of Appalachia United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Appalachia Culture Council, the Town Planning Committee and Zoning Committee, and the Downtown Improvement Committee She was preceded in death by her parents, C.F. Wright Jr. and Maurine Wright; sisters, Doris Hobbs and Dorothy “Dot” Wright. She is survived by her sons, Rusty James and wife, Loretta (Duffield, VA), Mickey James and wife, Karen (Big Stone Gap, VA); daughter, Connie McMahan and husband Thomas (Appalachia, VA); brother, C.F. “Sonny” Wright (Appalachia, VA); eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. The James family will receive friends at Roy A. Green Funeral Home from 12 noon to 1:30 pm on Thursday, March 19, 2026. A graveside funeral service will follow at 2 pm at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens with Rev. David Rose officiating.

Emma Jane James

February 4, 1939 - March 14, 2026