FACE COVERINGS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO ENTER THE FUNERAL HOME!!!!!!

Funeral service will be 3:30 P.M. on Friday, November 17, 2023, at Shaw Funeral Home.  Visitation will be 30 minutes prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home.

James Matthew McKoy was given the gift of life on December 11,1953, in Brooklyn, New York to the Late Zilphia McKoy.  In years to come, he found favor with the name "Honey Bun" as he was affectionately called.  James moved to Wilmington, North Carolina at the tender age of two (2).  He was educated in the public school system of New Hanover County.  James first love was music.  He loved to play his guitar, performing with several local bands and "gigs".  His second was cooking.  He worked at "A Taste of Country", "Alleigh's", and "Annabelle's".  During his life, James was preceded in death by his Mother, Zilphia McKoy; Brothers, Kenneth McKoy and Cornell Hyman; Grandparents, James and Maggie Morris; Step-Grandmother, Louise Morris; Uncles, Baby Boy Morris, James Morris Jr, and John D. Morris; Aunts, Lizzie Delores Morris, Catherine Morris, Fannie Louise Hyman, Mary Frances Ransome (Walter) and Yvon Morris; Grand-Aunt, Mabel McKoy and Grand-Uncles, Harvey McKoy, Sr. and Peter McKoy (Martha).  James gave his life to the Lord and joined Union Missionary Baptist Church in the early 2000's.  In summation, at the tender age of 19, James along with nine (9) others was wrongfully convicted of the February 6, 1971, for the fire-bombing of Mike's Grocery (located at 6th & Ann Street) and with shooting at the fire-fighters who responded to the fire.  The group became known as "The Wilmington 10".  On October 17, 1972, the jury convicted the defendants of conspiracy to assault emergency personnel and conspiracy to burn property with incendiary devices.  James was sentenced to 29 years.  He was released on parole in 1980.  On December 31, 2012, more than 40 years after each was convicted, Governor Beverly Perdue granted pardons on the basis of actual innocence.  In 2015, James's health began to fail.  He began dialysis.  He hated these treatments with a passion, but he endured them till the end.  James' family believes that God intervened and orchestrated James's existence by placing Juan and Sonia McKoy, and their family in his life.  They were not only his caregivers; they became his extended family; friends for life.  They loved and respected James.  Just as a family member would, they took very good care of James who became disabled.  James, God's child, was loaned to us for sixty-nine years.  On November 10, 2023, at 3:41 pm an Angel of Mercy on a mission assigned by God gently breezed through ICU 54 at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and ushered James into the presence of his Savior.  Those who remain to cherish the memories that only they hold from being loved by James are:  the love of his life; Daughter, Jasmine Matthia McKoy of Fayetteville, NC; Devoted Special Son and Daughter, Juan McKoy (Sonia) of Castle Hayne, NC; one Brother, Jerry Lewis McKoy (Janice) of Columbus, GA; one Aunt, Ruth Morris Beatty of the City; one Uncle, David Edward Morris of the City; one special Great-Granddaughter, Kalia and one special Great-Great Grandson, Kiyan; devoted friends, Deacon Miles Davidson and Wayne Moore.  There are a host of Nieces, Nephews, Great Nieces, Great Nephews, Cousins and friends.