Christopher Lionel James Sr.
Feb. 23, 1967-March 23, 2014
East Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Tammy Slaughter

Christopher Lionel James Sr. was born on February 23, 1967, in San Francisco, Calif., to LeGatha King. The younger of two siblings, Christopher, who was lovingly known as Charley Rigby, was raised in San Francisco and South San Francisco. He attended Cleveland, Bret Harte and West Borough Elementary and Junior High Schools. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1984. Needless to say, he was a die-hard 49ers fan.

Five years later on his birthday, he married his former spouse, Tammy Slaughter and her son Kevin Jones. To this union were born four beautiful children: Christopher Jr., Timothy, Jeremy and Kiara. Anyone who knew Chris knew that his children were the love of his life. He enjoyed and looked forward to spending time with them at amusement parks, the beach and over home-cooked meals he would prepare himself.

Chris was very talented and had many passions. One of his greatest was that for art and design. In 1994, he studied cosmetology in Santa Maria, Calif., with a primary focus of becoming a barber and owning his own shop. Purchasing a barber's chair and barber supplies, Chris became known as the 'community' barber. With a watchful eye and a careful hand, we've had the privilege of seeing beautiful images and works of art carefully trimmed onto the heads and into the hearts of many men, women and children of whom he lovingly referred to as friends.

Chris's other passion was cooking. He was a great cook who for more than 10 years would faithfully prepare Sunday dinners to ensure the elderly and disabled persons in his apartment complex were being fed. He would also prepare plates for his children and others who would ask him to set a plate aside.

In his spare time, he loved to travel, work on his cars, spend time with his family and friends, and doodle. Whether in the air, on land or in the water, no matter what Chris would be doing, he would meet and make a friend along the way.

Our hearts our deeply saddened with our loss. Chris who left us far too soon was loved by so many. He was 47 years of age.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather L.V. James, his maternal great-grandmother, Bertha Nettles, his paternal grandmother Bertha Lee Powell and his paternal grandfather Charles Henry Strange Sr.

He is survived by many and leaves to cherish his memories, four sons: Christopher L. James Jr. and Timothy A. James of San Diego, Calif., Jeremy D. James of East Palo Alto, Calif., and Kevin Jones (Kristine) of Gilroy, Calif. He leaves one daughter, Kiara Queen Esther James of East Palo Alto, Calif.

Others who mourn are: his maternal grandmother, Equilla James of Santa Maria, CA, his parents Juan and LeGatha Rivero of San Francisco, CA, one sister, Vivian James and his nephew, Nicholas James Tyler of Berkeley, CA. He has one great niece, Ni'za Tyler and two grand-daughters, Jayla and Jocelyn Jones.

He will be missed by his maternal uncles: Sydney King, David King (Delores), Larry James and Clifford James and his maternal aunts: Beverly Huggins, Janice Elam and Vanessa King.

He also leaves: his paternal uncles, Ernest Strange and Larry Powell and his paternal aunt, Bennie Crockran.

His friend Brittney and her two sons and a host of in-laws, cousins, relatives and friends will also miss Christopher.

He was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all.