James Franklin Young - Obituary

ames Franklin Young was born on September 13, 1942, in Pensacola, Florida, to Joseph & Katie Young. His early years were spent between Florida and Washington D.C. In D.C., he attended Douglass Junior High School. After graduation from McKinley Tech High School he went to Howard University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He started his career with H. R. Grace as a chemist. Changing fields, James received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Federal City College. He loved his new career, where he was given the opportunity to travel across the United States, serving as program administrator for the Indian Head Start Program. James received multiple awards while serving a long government career at The Department of Health and Human Services. His desire to help youth, led him to become a substitute teacher for Prince Georges County upon his retirement. James was baptized at the age of 13 at Emanuel Baptist Church. He was a devoted Christian, joining Campbell AME church in 1988. James knew and loved the Lord and walked in faith and in the belief of a heavenly home through Jesus. While at Campbell, James served as President of the Sons of Allen and was a member of the Men’s Club, the Raby-Jennings Lay Organization. He was loved by the Thursday Night Bible Study Class. James, on several occasions, had the privilege of providing the Sunday Message at Campbell. James was an active member of the Hillcrest Heights Civic Association, where he served on the scholarship committee for multiple years. During football season, he could be seen cheering on the Washington Redskins. James loved to read and wrote many verses he compiled with a plan to publish them. In 1988, James married the love of his life, Joan, whom he had admired from junior high school. As a result, James became a second father to Kristine and grandfather to Matthew and Elijah. An entrepreneur at heart, James, a real estate broker, established his own firm, Young Real Estate, in 1989. There he and Joan worked side by side. His father, Joseph F. Young, Jr., stepfather, Madison Arnold, and brother, Joseph A. Young preceded James in death. He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Joan; his mother, Katie Arnold; brothers, Edward Young and Jarl Young (Diedre); sister Avis Bembry; three sons, Anthony, Kelvin and George Young; daughter, Kristine Louis (Dimitri); and seven grandsons, Matthew, Elijah, Michael, Brandon, Herb, Joshua and Allen; stepmother, Mabel Young; and a host of relatives and friends.