James Rivers, III, husband of Lula Coston Rivers and son of the late James Rivers, Jr. and Wilhelminia Jacobs Rivers, was born November 25, 1948 in Sumter County, South Carolina. He entered eternal life on Friday, January 19, 2024 at MUSC Fairfield, Winnsboro, South Carolina. He attended Wayman Chapel AME Church in his youth. Mr. James was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and graduated from Ebenezer High School in 1967. Shortly after graduation, he moved to New York where he worked at West-End Plaza for many years before returning to South Carolina where he resided for one year. He married Lula Coston Rivers in 1977 and they returned to New York where they resided for 9 years. They eventually moved to Decatur, Georgia where he resided until July of 2021. To this union he was blessed with two step-daughters, Dana Coston and Hilda Y. Coston. In addition to his parents and step daughter, Hilda Y. Coston, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, James Rivers, Sr. and Charlotte Haile Rivers, maternal grandparents, Jerry Ricks and Susanna Wright Bowen, two sisters and a host of uncles and aunts. James leaves to cherish his precious memories: his wife, Lula Coston Rivers of Decatur, Georgia; a step daughter, Dana Coston of Decatur, Georgia; two brothers, David Rivers of Dalzell, S. C. and Jerry (Sarah) Rivers of Bronx, NY; a sister, Cynthia (Joseph) Whiting of Dalzell, S. C.; eight grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; six uncles; five aunts; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitation at the home, 5670 Fish Road, Dalzell. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024 – 2:00 p. m. at Wayman Chapel AME Church, 160 North Kings Highway (Highway 261 North), Sumter with the Rev. Robert L. China, Jr., Pastor and Eulogist. The Remains will be place in the church at 1:00 p. m. for viewing until time of services. The procession will leave the home at 1:20 p. m. Burial will be in the Willow Grove AME Church Yard Cemetery, 8105 Sumter Landing Road, Horatio.
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