Willie  James Wakefield, 72, of Charlotte, North Carolina  passed on  Friday, February 28, 2020 at his home. James was born on December 25, 1947 in Greenville, South Carolina to the late Willie and Daisy Mae Harrison Wakefield.  James attended public schools in Greenville, South Carolina and  worked in construction before his retirement.  In addition to his parents James was preceded in death by  three siblings, Charles “Chico” Wakefield, William “Cowboy”  Wakefield  and Judy Wakefield Oglesby. 

James is survived by  six sons,  Lamont (Jenita) Wakefield , LaReese Wakefield and Daryl Ballenger of Greenville, SC, Jared Matthew Wakefield  of Newberry, SC, Charles Taylor of Sanford,  Florida and Desmond (Val)  Taylor  of  Simpsonville, SC;  Three  daughters,  Judy (Andrew) Wardlaw of  Simpsonville, SC, Tiffie (Kenyatta)  King  of  Greenville, SC and Porsha Wakefield  of Brooklyn, NY.; one brother, Danny Wakefield  of  Spartanburg,  SC; one sister, Elyne Johnson of Hickory NC , twenty-five  grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren