JAMES WILLIAM BRASWELL
July 10, 1937-June 11, 2016
James William Braswell, 78, died June 11, 2016, in Richmond, Va., after a short illness.
Known by family and friends as Jim or Jimmy, he will be remembered as extremely intelligent, dedicated to his work, unfailingly devoted to anyone dear and dependable for anything asked, with a genuine sense of humor that was all his own.
Jim was born July 10, 1937, in a farm house in Smithfield, N.C., Johnston County, near his mother, Inez Pittman Braswell's, family home. He was the oldest of five children, "none of them as good-looking as me."
In 1941, as part of the war effort, his family moved to Wilmington, N.C., where his father, Dr. Robert Braswell, worked in a shipyard as the head of a blacksmith shop. They stayed there until World War II was over.
Although his grandfather had lost it due to hardships during the Depression, his father had saved enough money to buy back the family farm and return to Smithfield, N.C., where Jim remained for his adolescent life.
Starting at a young age, he worked helping farm tobacco, corn and soybeans.
After graduating from Princeton High School, Jim moved on to North Carolina State University. Although he initially thought of being a brain surgeon, he ultimately majored in engineering, deciding that he may be better suited for that field.
He paid his way through his education there taking on jobs such as waiting at banquets, playing piano in a rock and roll band, putting up fences as a fence master and joining ROTC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University in 1959, and continued in the Virginia National Guard, achieving the rank of captain.
After his college graduation, he started at Virginia Electric Power Co., the company with which he stayed for his entire career. He worked at Portsmouth Power Station for four years, Possum Point Power Station for two years, corporate headquarters in Richmond, Va., for approximately four years and then Chesterfield Power Station as an engineer.
While working, he obtained his Masters of Science degree in nuclear science and engineering from Virginia Polytech Institute and State University in 1976.
After a couple of years again at corporate headquarters as director of fossil and hydro operations in Richmond, he became manager of Chesterfield Power Station in 1980, where he remained until 1985 when he became head of engineering and construction.
He then moved to Dominion Energy Inc., subsidiary of Dominion Resources Inc., in 1988, where he ultimately became vice president of operations. During his time in that role, he was a world traveler, going to South America and Europe, among other places.
Jim retired in 2003 from Dominion Energy after 42 years of dedicated service.
He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, and taught a preparation course through the University of Virginia's extension school to help prepare others for the exam.
Jim had a thirst for knowledge. He was an avid reader with a deep interest in history, particularly that of World War II. If Jim did not know how to do something, he read up on it until he was an expert, becoming a talented Mustang and clock restorer.
Jim is survived by his wife, Hilda; his four children, James Braswell Jr. (Carolyn) of Goldsboro, N.C., Sandra Wood (Ray) of Powhatan, Va., Alice Braswell of Richmond, Va., and Anna Braswell of Arlington, Va.; and four grandchildren, Meredith Braswell, Virginia Wood, James Braswell III and Henry Wood.
He is further survived by his brothers, Robert Braswell of Goldsboro, N.C., and Charles Braswell (Betty) Smithfield, N.C.; sister, Larue Thornton (George); as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, many friends and his canine shadow, Henry.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Wooten.
His memorial service will be held Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at St. Alban's Anglican Church on Hermitage Road. His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the name of James Braswell to the National Ataxia Foundation (www.ataxia.org).
As Jim would say, in the end, everything's copasetic.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on June 26, 2016 11:02 AM