James Lain

High Point - James “Jim” Ray Lain, 83, passed away while surrounded by his family on Thursday September 20, 2018 at Beacon Place Hospice of Greensboro NC.

Jim was born on May 30, 1935 in High Point, NC to The Reverend Carl A. Lain and Ruby Ballard Lain.  Jim was married to the love of his life, Jeanette D. Lain for 42 years until her passing in 2002.  He was a 1954 graduate of High Point High School and subsequently attended High Point College.  Mr. Lain was the owner of Jim Lain Construction Co, Inc. and TraveLine, Inc.  His high-quality craftsmanship was well noted in the High Point Furniture Market showrooms.

Mr. Lain was passionate about The United Methodist Church Volunteers in Mission and was appointed as a Team Leader for over two decades, traveling to the Caribbean Islands and Central America to help the poor and under-privileged, build schools, dig wells and construct churches. Jim led 27 teams to various countries including the 1974 Western NC Conference United Methodist Volunteer in Mission’s first team to inaugurate a new project in Haiti. Jim was an active member of The Oak View Lions Club, serving as President and being awarded the coveted Lion of the Year Award twice.  Jim was recognized by The Lions Club for registering over 300 individual donations to The North Carolina Eye Bank.  Steadfast in his dedication to children and teens, he was a Leader of the Oak View Methodist Church Youth Fellowship, President of the T.W. Andrews High School Band Booster Club and a member of the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scout Troop #1, High Point, NC.

Jim was a generous man who maintained a separate fund to assist his neighbors in need as well as providing Christmas gifts to children who would otherwise receive no holiday presents.  All donations were anonymous as Mr. Lain gave from his heart, never seeking notoriety. Mr. Lain was a member of the former Oak View United Methodist Church and was a Charter Member of Covenant Church United Methodist. Jim was affectionately known as “The BBQ Man” in Guilford County due to the popularity of his famous Jim Lain BBQs to benefit volunteer missions, churches and non-profit organizations.

As a hot rod enthusiast, Jim was a race car driver during his younger years racing on the old Daytona Beach Road course which was run on the sands of the beach and Highway A1A.  At Bowman Gray Stadium, he drove modified cars, was a pit crew member for Champion Ken Rush #53 and later a car owner.

An avid sportsman, Jim loved to fresh-water bass fish, surf fish in the Atlantic and flounder gig on the intra-coastal waterways of the Carolinas.  He enjoyed collecting antique and rare Pepsi bottles as well as dabbling in numismatics (coin and currency collecting).  Jim seized the opportunity to travel the world and sailed on over 25 cruises.  He was a member of the Holland America Line Mariner’s Club.

He leaves to cherish his memory a daughter, Dawn Lain Humphrey and her husband Richard Humphrey of Jamestown, NC; a son Brian A. Lain, PhD and his wife Karen A. Lain, PhD of Denton Texas; two granddaughters, Dr. Holly Lain Humphrey and husband Jan Anderson of Winston Salem, NC and Dr. Hailly Humphrey-Rutledge and husband Alex Rutledge of Winston Salem, NC; two step-grandchildren, Aidan Anderson & Kaia Anderson of Denton, Texas; and 3 great-grandsons Humphrey Lain Anderson, Redding August Rutledge and Silas Grammar Anderson, all of Winston Salem, NC; brother Bob Lain and his companion Linda Brinkley of Cary, NC and sister Joyce Lain Nesbit of Colfax, NC.  Mr. Lain was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette D. Lain,  a sister, Barbara Lain Jones and brother-in-law Charles Nesbit.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, September 24, 2018 at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, High Point, NC.  Burial in the Lain Family plot at Floral Garden Cemetery will follow.  The family will receive visitors at the church 12:30 pm just prior to the funeral service.

Memorial contributions may be made to WNCCUMC – VIM, PO Box 2757, Huntersville, NC 28070. Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel is assisting the family.