Mr. Christenbury was born December 14, 1946 in Gastonia, NC to the late John Hubert Christenbury and Iva Lee Childress. He graduated from Roanoke Rapids High School in 1965 and went on to serve in the US Army from 1966-1968 and was in the Army reserves until 1972.
He served Roanoke Rapids and surrounding areas for 38 years as James H. Christenbury & Sons General Contractors. Becoming a Christian in 1972, he served in several positions in the Church of God and Harvest Temple Pentecostal Holiness Church as deacon, Sunday school teacher and assistant teacher. His heart belonged to the Boys Ministry as a leader of the Ambassadors for Christ and a Royal Ranger Commander from 1980-2011, ministering on local, district and conference levels.
He worked and ministered to boys and sometimes girls. He was a member of the Frontiersman Camping Fellowship which is an outreach of the Royal Ranger Ministry. He was also a member of the Gideon International Ministry for 30 years and spoke in several churches in the area for the Gideons.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Christenbury is preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Blanton; a sister, Dot Addison; two brothers, Steve Christenbury and John Christenbury and a half-sister, Bernice.
Surviving is his wife of 38 years, Jean “Jeanie Weinie” Christenbury of the home; a daughter, Renee Brown and fiancé Jerry Smith of Winston-Salem; two sons, Rev. Barry Blanton and wife Michelle (Missy) of Rocky Mount and Jamie Christenbury and wife Nicole of Littleton; four brothers, Ron Christenbury and wife Linda of Starr, SC, Richard Christenbury and wife Linda of Roanoke Rapids, Kenny Christenbury of Hartwell, GA, and David Christenbury of Colonial Heights, VA and a sister, Janet Sinclair and husband Rick of Garner, NC. Also surviving are six grandsons, Brandon Brown, Dylan Blanton, Garrett Brown, Wesley Christenbury, Matthew Blanton and Hunter Christenbury and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Monday, January 17th from 7-9 PM at Harvest Temple Pentecostal Holiness Church where funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Norwood C. Starling Tuesday, January 18th at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, at Jim’s request, the family would like donations to be made to The Gideon International, PO Box 1563, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.
Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service is handling the arrangements where online condolences can be sent to www.hockadayfs.com
