Florence Amy James died in Mississauga on September 8, 2026. Born in East Preston, Nova Scotia, on November 21, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Rita (Evans) James and George James Sr. and spent much of her early life with her grandparents, A.W. Evans and Jean Evans.
Faith shaped Florence’s life from an early age. She committed herself to the Lord at 13 and served in organizations and committees in East Preston and the African United Baptist Association. She attended the Royal Conservatory of Music and graduated from Halifax Vocational School.
For many years, Florence was the organist at East Preston United Baptist Church. Her music also brought her together with choirs and groups in Black communities throughout Nova Scotia.
Florence worked at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth before moving to British Columbia in 1965. After relocating to Mississauga in 1975, she was employed by the federal government until retiring in 1991. She then returned to East Preston to work with her sisters at the family bookstore before moving back to Mississauga in 1994.
A faithful member of Faith Alive Christian Centre, Florence lived in Mississauga with her daughter, Sharma, whom she regarded as the light of her life; her son-in-law, Charles; and her grandson.
Florence is survived by her daughter, Sharma Katheryn Colley Jackson; son-in-law, Charles Jackson; grandson, Lyric Darnell Allen W. James; siblings George Jr., Regina, Diane, Primrose, Mesi, Elizabeth and Janice (Murphy) Beals; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and godchildren Peter Evans and Melinda Diggs.
A celebration of Florence’s life will be held at New Beginnings Ministries, 26 Cherry Brook Road in Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia, on Friday, September 25, 2026. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. until noon, with the funeral beginning at noon.
