James was born in Phenix City, Alabama to the late Cornell Clay and the late Callie Edmond.

James attended public schools and graduated from Central High School in 1973. In high school, he participated in a 4-year ROTC program and played tuba in the marching band.

He joined the United States Army in 1973 and after completing basic training at Fort Polk, LA he entered the U.S. Army School of Music in Norfolk, VA. After auditioning for the newly formed Old Guard Drum and Bugle Corps, he arrived at Fort Myer, VA in 1974. They later added Fifes to the Drum & Bugle Corps. After he taught himself how to play the fife, it became his preferred musical instrument.

After spending several years in the Fife & Drum Corps, he decided to attend the Signal School in Fort Gordon, GA (1976) to train in electronics.

His new skill landed him in South Korea where he took college courses and played on the trophy winning flag football team of the 8th Army Command and sang in the church choir. James was stationed at Fort Riley, KS where he attended the NCO Academy and received the NCO of the month award, along with taking more college courses.

After three years in the “regular” Army, he began to miss music and marching. He returned to Fort Myer, VA and the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps for good.

Off base, James was an instructor and performing member of the Patowmack Ancients Fife and Drum Corps of Arlington, VA and later the Monumental City Ancient Fife & Drum Corps of Baltimore, among others.

James joined Beulah Baptist Church of Alexandria, VA in 1982 and was ordained as a Deacon in 1987. Over the next 27 years, James performed all across the nation and abroad. He marched in 7 Presidential Inaugurals, had his picture in Ebony Magazine, and a close-up in the movie “Gardens of Stone,” starring James Earl Jones. James broke the color barrier in his chosen field by often times being the first or only man of African American descent.

After the terrorist attack of 2001, James’ unit participated in the recovery efforts at the Pentagon. He returned home at the end of the day, quiet and solemn.

After 33 years of dedicated and loyal service to the U.S. Army and the United States of America, James retired in 2006.

After retirement, James became involved in different community service organizations. He was President of the Dale City Civic Association, Staging Director for the Dale City 4th of July Parade, Past President and member of the Woodbridge Rotary Club, member of the Americans in Wartime Museum committee member of the Montclair BNI group, member of the Prince William County Police Advisory Board and a member of the American Legion. At the time of his passing, he was owner and operator of his own copying and printing business.

James was preceded in heaven by his baby son, Christopher Louis Hicks; his sister, Phyllis Anne Hicks; 2 Aunts, Liza Jackson and Bessie May Gary.

James leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife of 42 years, Surletha (Lisa) Hicks; two sons, Kevin Hicks of Dumfries, VA; Michael Hicks, of Fayetteville, NC; one daughter Stephanie Hicks of Lakeland, FL; two sisters, Lula Goodwin (Henry); Angel James (Tony), both of Columbus, GA; three brothers, John Hicks (Donna) of Texas; David Edmonds and Robert Edmonds, both of Columbus, GA; one aunt, Pearl Davis of Columbus, GA; and three grandchildren. James has many siblings and other relatives on his father’s side that I am not able to name and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, friends and more friends.