Tributes

It is with deep sorrow that Mr. Tony Charles James, Sr. announces the death of his beloved wife, Mrs. Cathy Watford James, 63. Mrs. James entered into rest on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. The family will receive friends at 6 o'clock on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in The Chapel of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to: Darlington County Humane Society, PO Box 1655, Hartsville, SC 29551 or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087. Mrs. James was born on July 3, 1960, in Hartsville, SC. She was the daughter of the late Herbert Lee Watford and the late Vara Almena Coates Watford. Cathy was always a giver who thought of others before herself. From a young age, she enjoyed being the “mom” of her friends group, always making sure each of her friends were taken care of first. She married Tony, the love of her life, on June 21, 1982, which began a marriage that spanned an incredible 42 years. During those 42 years, Cathy was never far away from Tony. The farthest was during his years in the United States Navy, in which he would be away at sea for months, though she moved with him throughout his naval career and, ultimately, landed back in Hartsville where they settled down to build a career and family. Cathy was solidly devoted to Tony until the date of her untimely passing. While Cathy was a master of many skills and trades, she was undoubtedly best known in Hartsville simply as “CJ.” She opened CJ’s Cakes & Catering in 1996, at the insistence of her late father, in a two-story home on Armory Street in Hartsville. She operated CJ’s out of this location until 2003 when she moved it to the current location at 315 S. 5th St. For 28 years, Cathy has made CJ’s a staple in Hartsville, and the surrounding areas, for her famous 6-layer chocolate/caramel cakes and so much more. Multiple generations have enjoyed her cakes, cookies, squares, and party helpers for decades and nearly all who visited were greeted by a smile from Cathy when they walked in. While her devotion to her husband and her business were of the utmost importance to her, her proudest moments came when she was with her entire family. Cathy loved her two sons, Charlie and Zach, their wives Bethany and Jordan, and especially her four grandbabies, Irby, Walt, Tony Charles, and Ruby. There was nothing that Cathy loved more than a pool day in Hartsville, watching them swim with Papa, or a beach day in Surfside watching them play together in the waves and sand. She also loved having her entire family under one roof every Thanksgiving and Christmas. She will undoubtedly be missed by so many but none more so than her family that she valued above all else. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Tony Charles James, Sr. of Hartsville; sons, Tony Charles “Charlie” (Bethany) James, Jr. of York, SC, Zachary Walter “Zach” (Jordan) James, Sr. of Hartsville; grandchildren, Irby Ann James of York, SC, Zachary Walter “Walt” James, Jr. of Hartsville, Tony Charles James III of York, SC, Ruby Sellers James of Hartsville; sister, Sandra (Larry) Huggins of Hartsville; sister-in-law, Angela (Gary) Howell of Oates; nephews, Sam Huggins of Hartsville, Alex (Meg) Huggins of Lexington, SC; and many special aunts, uncles, and cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Nira Ann Watford of Hartsville; father- and mother-in-law, Charles and Ruby Frances James.

Tributes

Mrs. Cathy Watford James

July 3, 1960 - June 30, 2024