James Dr. Valsame

Dr. James Valsame, 91, of Raleigh, formerly of Garner, NC, passed away on Friday, March 23, 2018. He was a resident of Sunrise at North Hills Assisted Living in Raleigh. Dr. Valsame was born on October 15, 1926 in Brevard, NC, the son of Charles and Amanda Lillie (Jackson) Valsame. He spent his formative years in Hendersonville, Etowah, and Canton, NC. Dr. Valsame was a 1943 graduate of Etowah High School, and a 1950 cum laude graduate of Wake Forest University. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1958, and a Doctorate Degree in Education from the same institution in 1961. He was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Scholarship in 1957 and 1958-59. While at Wake Forest University, he was drafted into the army for service in World War II on February 28, 1945. He performed basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Croft, SC and Camp Rucker, AL, before being sent to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater for fourteen months. He was stationed during that time in Guam and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged from military service on December 16, 1946, and resumed his education at Wake Forest upon return home. He was the recipient of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal On July 15, 1956, he married the former Dorothy Jean Barnes of Coats, NC, with whom he had three children. Dr. Valsame had a distinguished career in education. He began his career as a teacher and coach at Coats High School, Coats, NC for four years. This was followed by four years as principal at Millingport High School, Stanly County, NC. He served as principal for one year at Edgewood Elementary School in Whiteville, NC, and also was principal for one year at L. J. Bell Elementary School in Rockingham, NC. In 1961, Dr. Valsame became employed with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, NC, making his home in nearby Garner. During his time with the department, he served as Coordinator and Supervisor of In-Service Education; Director of the Division of Staff Development; Director of the Division of Certification; Consultant in Accreditation; Special Assistant for Program Quality, Support Services; and Coordinator of Onsite Review, Division of Accreditation. He was also a member of numerous committees on education, and collaborated on various education publications. He was a life member of the National Education Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, and Phi Delta Kappa. Following his retirement with the State of NC in 1990, Dr. Valsame became actively involved with North Carolina Retired School Personnel, serving as chairman of committees at county, district, and state levels. He served as State Executive Director of that organization from January, 1995-December, 2002. In addition to his career in education, Dr. Valsame was actively involved in church and community activities. He was one of five founders of Aversboro Road Baptist Church in Garner, NC. He served as Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Deacon Chairman, Moderator, Director of Sunday School, and Chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee. He was also actively involved with the Raleigh Baptist Association and NC State Baptist Convention. He served fifteen years on the Town of Garner Adjustment Board, twelve as chairman, and also served five years on Garner School Advisory Board, three as chairman. He received the Garner Outstanding Citizen Award in 1979. Dr. Valsame became involved with the Lions Club in 1956, serving in Millingport, Whiteville, and Rockingham, NC Lions Clubs. After moving to Garner, NC, he became a member of the Raleigh Host Lions Club for seven years. He transferred membership to the Garner Lions Club in 1969. He served as President of that club in 1974-75, and was recognized as Lion of the Year by his club in 1977-78. He was a Deputy District Governor in 1976-77. In 1978, he was elected District Governor for NC District 31-G, for which he received the 100% District Governor Award. He was a recipient of the John L. Stickley Award from North Carolina Lions, and received numerous other honors from Lions Club International. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother George Valsame, and his wife Dorothy Jean (Barnes) Valsame. Survivors include daughter Jimi Anne Gibson and her husband Joseph of Hampstead, NC; son George Thomas Valsame and his wife Gail of Castle Hayne, NC; son James Mark Valsame of Raleigh, NC; sister Helen Balcom and her husband Rev. Billy R. Balcom of Mills River, NC; sister-in-law Allie Mae Herring and her husband Rev. H. Dewey Herring of Concord, NC; nephews Gary Hill, Larry Hill, and Timothy Balcom; niece Ann Harrington; grandchildren Laura, Amanda, and Scott and his wife Christine; great-grandchildren Sarah, Jarrett, and Benjamin. Funeral Services will be at Aversboro Road Baptist Church, Garner, NC on Saturday, March 31st at 2:00 pm, with burial following at Coats City Cemetery, Coats, NC. Visitation will be at the church from 12:30-1:45 pm prior to the service. The family wishes to thank Sunrise at North Hills Assisted Living, Heartland Hospice, Aversboro Road Baptist Church, and Garner Lions Club for their care and kindness towards our father. Donations in memory of Dr. Valsame may be made to either Aversboro Road Baptist Church or Lions International Brighter Vision Program through the Garner Lions Club.