August 11, 2022, 74, Goldsboro –

James Berkley Neese passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022. He was born December 10, 1947 in Greensboro, North Carolina to Nancy Skinner Neese and William Homer Neese.

He attended Grimsley High School, Darlington School, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

After graduation and the completion of his service in the National Guard, Jimmy married Betsy Kemp on April 8, 1972. They moved to Chapel Hill and Jimmy returned to UNC to complete his MBA.

After living briefly in Louisville, Kentucky, where daughter Elizabeth was born, they returned to Goldsboro, and he worked at Kemp Furniture Industries as Vice President of Sales.

His community involvement included serving on the Board of Directors of Union Bank and the Foundation Board of Wayne Community College. He was active in Cures for the Colors and served as President of Goldsboro Country Club.

A member of the Rod and Gun Club, Jimmy was an avid angler and bird hunter. He enjoyed traveling and skied all over the American West and much of Europe. Jimmy was known for his sense of humor and his bigger than life personality. He was a devoted Tar Heel fan and was able to attend the Final Four in March 2022 in New Orleans where he enjoyed seeing his Tar Heels beat Duke for a second consecutive time.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Dale Neese Nicholson. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Kemp Neese; daughter, Elizabeth Neese Woodard and son-in-law, Charles Kevin Woodard; grandsons, Charles Berkley Woodard and William Kemp Woodard; granddog, Posey Rose; niece, Lynn Koonce and husband, Mike Koonce, and their children, Molly and Reid Koonce.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Frances Wood, Eric Bradley, and Brenda Mills for their care and support.

Visitation is on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at the home of Elizabeth and Kevin Woodard, 1518 East Mulberry Street, Goldsboro from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

A graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August, 14, 2022 in Willow Dale Cemetery. The family will also greet friends following the service at the cemetery.

Memorials may be given in his memory to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 200 N. James Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530 or to First Presbyterian Church, 1101 E. Ash Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.