Staff Sergeant James Arcell Brumfield (Ret.) was born on October 19, 1944, in Osyka, Mississippi. He was born to OBD James and Leester Brumfield. He was the second oldest of six children: OBD James, Jr. (deceased), Beatrice, Maggie Yvonne, Veo Wilbert and Katherine Rose.

James grew up in the church, became a Christian and was baptized as a member of Kelly M.B. Church in Mississippi. Due to the racial tensions of the time in the Deep South, James' father moved the family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1957. There, James attended Mt. Carmel M.B. Church with his family. He also excelled in several sports, including his favorite, wrestling at Lincoln High School. He graduated high school in 1963. After high school, he worked locally at a company called Falk. Then due to the turbulent times of the 60s, James was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1965.

During his service in the Army, he did three tours in the Vietnam War. He was particularly assigned as a "tunnel rat" in his platoon. He was the recipient of many commendations during his military service and retired as a Staff Sergeant.  James met the love of his life, Tommie Lee, when he was assigned to his company in Ft. Eustis, Virginia. Tommie joined the Army Reserves in Tampa and did part of her Basic Training in Ft. Eustis in June 1974. During this short two week period, James and Tommie talked over burgers and milkshakes and had a lovely date to old Williamsburg, Virginia. Jumping on the opportunity, James asked for information in order to keep the lines of communication open with Tommie. They talked everyday by phone, corresponded through letters and he sent her cassette tape of love songs and recordings of him singing to her. Ultimately, through phone correspondence, he asked Tommie for her hand in marriage. However, to make it official, he drove down to Tampa and asked her mother (Lula McCall) for permission to marry her daughter. Thus on August 30, 1974, James and Tommie were married in Tampa, FL, at a small ceremony at MacDill AFB Chapel. Since James was still in the military, he moved his family to Ft. Eustis and was subsequently stationed in Karlsrhue, Germany (West) for the next three years. Before retiring from the military, James and family settled back in Tampa and have lived there since 1979.

After 14 years of exemplary military service, he joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office as a deputy in 1980. He retired from HCSO in 2000 after 20 years of service and became a permanent "help" and "volunteer" at The Richardson Montessori Academy. This was the first charter school founded and run by this wife in Hillsborough County. He supported her in every capacity possible and mentored students from 1996 to 2016. James lived a full life with zero regrets. Those who remember him will miss his great smile, his booming deep voice, his penchant for giving sound, godly advice and his love for his wife and family.

He is remembered by his siblings, Beatrice Brumfield, Maggie Yvonne Carver, Veo Wilbert Brumfield and Katherine Rose Carver; children, Michael Wallace, John Brumfield, Harriet Brumfield, Gloria Simmons, Garret Brumfield, Darryl Brumfield, Kim Brumfield and Cheryl Brumfield; nephews and nieces, Andrew Brumfield, Adele Brumfield, Mike Carver, Mark Carver, Nikki Carver and Hollis Brumfield; grandchildren, Jacqueline Mason, Nehemiah Mason, Isaiah Mason, Renee' Wallace, Joshua Wallace, Jalen Wallace, Hope Smith, Na'Imah Wallace, Napata Meroe, Taylor Brumfield, Cameron Brumfield, Sydney Brumfield, Marcus Serrano Vigier, Brianna Vigier Acevedo, Gabriella Brumfield, Micah Brumfield, Christopher Ferguson and Nicole Ferguson; and great-grandchildren, Zuri Brutus, Jaxson Ali, Julianna Ali, Miya Numata and Amaya Numata; along with a host of other family and friends.

This service was live-streamed. If you would like to view, please click the link below.

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