Mr. James Sykes, Jr.

SYKES Mr. James Jr. - Age 86, passed away Sunday, March 13, 2016 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 21, 2016 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with a home going celebration commencing at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller, officiating. Family and friends will assemble in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home 10:00 a.m. Monday. Mr. Sykes will lie in state in the Chapel, and may be viewed from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday. James Sykes, Jr. was born on October 11, 1929 in Wisner, Arkansas, the oldest of eight siblings born to James and Easter Sykes. He moved to Flint Michigan in 1953 and was employed at Chevrolet Metal Fabricating, a division of General Motors for over 39 years before retiring in 1990. James married his wife Nora Hoskins Sykes in 1956. James Sykes was well known for his community activism and always promoting the importance of creating a safe and attractive neighborhood. He began his community work in 1976 when he founded the Ninth Street Block Club and the Lapeer Street Neighborhood Association and served as President for many years. He was a member of the Neighborhood Redevelopment Project (GNRP) for over 10 years and during his tenure he was instrumental in securing funds for improving Woodlawn Park. He was also involved in numerous neighborhood improvement projects throughout the years. Even after his retirement, James continued his community involvement participating in various political campaigns. When he wasn’t involved in community work, he was a “hands on” landlord always making sure his rental properties were attractive, and he demanded that his tenants do the same. James also pursued his passion of planting flowers and was often seen planting flowers each year on Lapeer Road. James Sykes leaves to cherish his memory: wife of 59 years, Nora Hoskins Sykes; 3 daughters, Gwen Sykes Austin, Phyllis Sykes, all of Flint and Cordia Sykes; son, James “Timmy” (Vicki) Sykes II, all of Bakersfield, CA; step-son, Lamont Hopkins of Flint; 4 grandchildren, Larnell Sykes of Las Vegas, NV, Anthony (Tony) Sykes of Thousand Oaks, CA, James “LJ” Sykes III of Bakersfield, CA and Jalen Sykes, Wichita, KS; 5 great-grandchildren, Sasha Briggs of Conway, AK, Jaron Sykes of Houston, TX, Jarell Sykes of Dimas, CA, Izayah Sykes of Las Vegas, NV and Julian Sykes of Bakersfield, CA; 2 great-great- grandchildren, Josiah Briggs Conway, AR and Jahce Sykes of Houston, TX; sisters, Mary Taylor McGhee of Grand Blanc, MI and Sakina Dekalb (Carlee) of Detroit, MI; 2 brothers, Benjamin Sykes (Hazel) and Scipio Jones, both of Flint; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Sykes was preceded in death by his son, Lee Kenall (Terry) Hopkins (Sykes); parents, James and Easter Sykes; sisters, Catherine Jones, Annie Ruth Sykes; and brother, Charles Sykes.

Mr. James Sykes, Jr.

October 11, 1929 - March 13, 2016