James Clay Jeter, age 84, of Ronceverte, West Virginia passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond.
Jim, as he was known to his many friends, was born October 1, 1934 in Morgantown, West Virginia to James Garrett Jeter and Lucille Chenoweth Jeter.
Jim was a U. S. Naval Reserve veteran and an alumnus of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned a B.A. degree in 1956 and a J.D. degree in Law in 1959.
Jim practiced law in Charleston, West Virginia for 49 years until he retired in 2007.
Jim served as an elected official on the Charleston City Council and several terms as a Delegate in the West Virginia legislature.
Jim was a devoted husband and father, a lifelong world traveler, a historic preservation enthusiast, and an avid collector of antiques.
Jim was a member of the Greenbrier County and Monroe County Historical Societies, and personally restored several West Virginia historic houses including the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listed ca. 1836 Putney House (Malden, WV), ca. 1795 Winall Home “Grayrock†(Fairlea, WV) and the NRHP listed ca. 1824 Elmhurst (Caldwell, WV).
Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, his son, Clay Chenoweth Jeter in 1983, his wife, Joan Hoeffling Jeter in 2003, and his wife, Elizabeth Corey Kells Jeter in 2010.
Jim is survived by two sons from his first marriage to Nancy Eileen Wick, David Jeter and Garrett Jeter, by his step children through wife, Joan Hoeffling Jeter, Richard Kitching, Briton Kitching, Scot Kitching and Lori Bagli, and by his step children through wife, Elizabeth Corey Kells Jeter, David Guthe, Susan Castelazo, and Carl Guthe; his seven grandchildren; his special friend, Jane Withers of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and his dear friend and caregiver, Debbie Martin of Alderson, West Virginia.
A memorial service for Jim will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, with Rev. Betsy Walker officiating.
Jim will be laid to rest, along with his wives, Joan Hoeffling Jeter and Elizabeth Corey Kells Jeter, in the Jeter family grave site at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Covington, Virginia.
Jim requested that memorial donations be made to HospiceCare, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization serving West Virginia, at www.hospicecare.org, or by mail to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanahwa Blvd W., Charleston, WV 25387.
