There is only so much room within someone for a heart bursting with love and a growing long-battled illness. The fight was over when beloved Father, Husband, Brother and Grandfather, James G Napier Sr, 86, quietly passed away at Halifax Hospice in Port Orange, FL where he was surrounded daily by loved ones, and met his Lord and Savior on March 20, 2026.

Born October 14, 1939 in the coal-mining hollars of Jackhorn, KY to Junior Norman Napier and Vivian ‘Vina’ Hughes, James loved his country so much, he joined the 25th Infantry Division of the US Army at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, just missing Elvis Presley who served there as well. He didn’t see action but came away with many fun stories about marching through the mess halls playing live Dixieland music with an array of trombones, trumpets and clarinets. He was also stationed at Panama Canal where he had no problem getting dates.

He worked as a milkman in North Carolina where he married Ruth Bryan who gave him 3 daughters before he landed a major job as a traveling salesman. He was now getting paid to see the country he’d just served. He was summoned to the DC-area where he met his second wife of 46 years, Antoinette Napier (Ithaca, NY, predeceased) who gave him 2 sons.

He loved the Lord and was active in his Pentecostal church and a number of projects to better his local community, such as volunteering to lead Bible study in local prisons to improve and rehabilitate those who once had nothing to lose. He changed lives by helping them find friendship and forgiveness in the Lord. He also volunteered at local food banks with Antoinette.

After his second wife sadly passed, he moved to Florida where he found friendship and his third wife Kristine Napier (Daytona Beach, FL). They built a friendship that lead to love. Kristine cared for him deeply until he soared on angel’s wings on his journey to Heaven.

He loved watching the Buffalo Bills, and always had time for beloved family. In later years, he developed a talent and passion for painting, and also took part in parasailing and horseback riding. Hopefully one day a book will be written about his life. It would be a page turner. It was fitting that he would join the angels on the same day as noble good-guy Chuck Norris.

James is survived by his wife, Kristine Napier (Daytona Beach, FL), and predeceased by his brothers, Daniel Amos Napier (who was born March 20 the same date of James’ passing)(Roanoke, VA), Wallace Napier (Jacksonville, FL), Douglas Napier (Ithaca, NY) and Lyndall Darrell Napier, and predeceased by his sister Maybell Napier McQueen (Charleston, TN) and sisters-in-law Kathy Feldbauer (North Tonawanda, NY), Julie Martineau Sipior (Southfield, MI), Connie Diven (Erie, PA), Julie Lori Wheeler (Copenhagen, NY), Kelly Devendorf (Carthage, NY), Kimberley Passage (Carthage, NY), Bambi Riccio (Daytona Beach, FL), Bureda Napier, Ann Music (Martin, KY), Janice Napier (Martin, KY), Betty Jo (Martin, KY) and Tootsie Skaggs (Martin, KY), and brother-in-laws Carey Jr (Tughill, NY), Alphonse ‘Butch’ Sipior (Southfield, MI) and Norman Junior Napier Jr. (Martin, KY, predeceased) as well as niece Robin Batchelor-Harris (Coker Creek, TN), and twins Billy Jean and Betty Jean Napier. He also loved his mothers-in-law Helena Cough (Port Orange, FL) and Cecilia Sipior (North Tonawanda, NY, predeceased), as well as fathers-in-law Steve Cough (Port Orange, FL) and Alphonse Sipior (North Tonawanda, NY, predeceased). He is also survived by daughters Dorinda Sue Porto (Daytona Beach, FL), Sharon Napier (Florida), Laura (North Carolina) and Marcie Martin as well as 3 sons James Napier Jr (Niagara Falls, NY), Anthony Napier (Missouri) and Kenneth Napier (Columbus, OH) as well as his step-sons Tyler Wilkinson (New York), Dwight Wilkinson (New York, predeceased), and Brandon Newstead (New York). and numerous nieces, grandchildren and nephews.

Per his wishes there will be no funeral and no wake. A Celebration of Life filled with beloved family and friends from around the country, with pictures and music he enjoyed, will be held April 5, 2026, on Easter Sunday, at 180 Pine Grove Court in Daytona Beach, FL from 2-4 pm. Instead of gifts, the family appeals to you for your kind gift to the American Cancer Society to honor James’ life.