James Lee Ferrell
December 15, 1937 ~ June 3, 2026
Born in: Lenoir County, NC
Resided in: Rocky Mount, NC
Rocky Mount – James “Jim” Lee Ferrell, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Born in Lenoir County, NC on December 15, 1937, he was the son of the late Lee Crocket Ferrell and Rebecca George Tharrington Ferrell. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Beth Chancellor Hammersley Ferrell; his sister-in-law Sherry Anderson Ferrell; and his brother-in-law, Philip Mark Balvocius.
Jim was a graduate of the University of North Carolina with an AB (Bachelor of Arts) in Psychology and the Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master of Science (MS) in Business. Additionally, he served his country in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. After an early career in two utility companies, Jim was employed in human resources at the University of Virginia, the University of Richmond, and Wake Forest University as the Human Resource Director for 25 years until his retirement. While in Winston Salem, he was active in numerous nonprofit organizations and was a member of the Unitarian University Fellowship in Winston Salem and a charter member of the Rocky Mount Fellowship. A devoted and loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and good friend to many, Jim will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Lyndsay Ferrell Constable and husband Brad; his son, Patrick Edward Ferrell; his grandson, Ryland Constable; his brother, Thomas “Tom” Bryon Ferrell; his sister-in-law, Ellen Balvocius; and several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and good friends.
A Celebration of Life Service to celebrate Jim’s life will be announced at a later date.
In honor of Jim’s spirit and life, “I emerged as a conscious cluster of particles, to ride the swirling currents of the Earth. The stochastic tide comes in, the entropic tide goes out. Wonder captures me. I fade into the energy of the planet.” – Surfer, a poem written by James Ferrell.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
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With love especially to Lyndsay, Brad, and Ryland
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord…
I worked with Jim at Wake Forest University when he was our Human Resources Director. I also became his neighbor in the Faculty Drive neighborhood on campus when he and Beth moved there. In my experience Jim was quite a guy. HR affairs everywhere are often heated and can drive wedges between people. But Jim’s kindness and loving spirit could bridge many of those wedges. As a friend I could tell that he often took the emotional brunt of those battles, but he always maintained the complete confidentiality the job required. I will miss him and will let others in the Faculty Drive neighborhood know of his passing.
Jim was a kind man and excellent professional. I knew him in his Wake Forest years and found him to be a wise colleague. I send my sympathy to his family.