The Rev. LeRoy Walker, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, speaks during the funeral of Vickye James, community leader and former Jamestown City Council member, on Wednesday at the church.

Family and friends gathered Wednesday in a private service to pay their respects to Vickye James, a community leader and City Council member who passed away March 27.

Song, videos and memories filled Emmanuel Baptist Church as family and friends remembered James. While the service was private for family, it was streamed on Facebook by the Lind Funeral Home — with more than a thousand people viewing the service online and dozens more sharing their condolences even they could not physically be in the church Wednesday.

James was a Jamestown City Council member, Chautauqua County Legislator, initiated the Girls in the Middle and Weed and Seed Programs, was a co-organizer of The Princess Club, chairperson and organizer of the city’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, and spearheaded various projects at Taylor Park including the newly installed playground and renovation of the concession stand.

“Today we come to celebrate the life of our dear sister, mother, wife, aunt, friend to many in the city of Jamestown, celebrate the life of Vickye James, who touched all our lives in so many ways,” said the Rev. Leroy Walker of Emmanuel Baptist Church. “We can’t even begin to talk or to count how she has touched our lives throughout the years. But we thank God that he has allowed her to be here on this earth just for a little while. We thank God that he has allowed this spirit to dwell in her just for a little while and to pass on to each one of us to let us know that Jesus lives. She let us know by the life that she lived. The way that she lived and how she talked and walked. This city, this community, is going to miss her tremendously.”

See Thursday’s edition for complete coverage.