Extracted from The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Monday, October 29, 2001

James Andrew Wellons, Jr.

James Andrew Wellons, Jr., age 91, died Sunday morning at his home. Born October 22, 1910 in Smithfield, NC, he was the son of the late James Andrew and Florence Lassiter Wellons and was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Janice Fitzgerald Wellons on January 1, 2001. A 1932 graduate of Duke University with a major in business, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and President of the InterFraternity Council. He was graduated from UNC Law School where he was a member of the Order of Coif and co-editor of the Law Review; one of only two graduates who received the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree-both men went on to become Assistant Attorney Generals of the State of North Carolina. Mr. Wellons next joined his father and brother in their law practice in Smithfield, Wellons and Wellons, Attorneys at Law. During W.W.II, Mr. Wellons served in the Army Air Corps where he was in the Judge Advocate General's Corps serving in the Third Air Force Headquarters. After the war, he returned to the family practice. He served in the Korean Conflict and once again was in the JAG's headquarters. After Korea he resumed his law practice in Smithfield.

Mr. Wellons served as Attorney for the Town of Smithfield, for Smithfield Savings and Loan and for West Smithfield Sanitary District. He practiced law for more than 58 years. Mr. Wellons was awarded a 50 year plaque from the NC Bar Association for those many years of practicing law in NC and honored by the Johnston County Bar Association after 50 years of practice. A member of the American Trial Association, American, North Carolina and Johnston County Bar Associations, he was a member of the 11th Judicial District Bar receiving numerous awards from these associations. For many years he was Chairman of the District Committee which interviewed candidates for the NC Bar. Several years ago, Mr. Wellons was interviewed by the UNC Law School for his biography as an outstanding NC Attorney. This biography was published and is housed in the UNC Law School Library and the UNC Wilson Library.

He was a life-long member of Centenary United Methodist Church where he had been a Lay Speaker, Treasurer, member and Chairman of the Administrative Board, member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a Sunday School Teacher. Mr. Wellons was a member of the Kiwanis Club, past member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Johnston County Library and past president of the Country Club of Johnston County. He was a member of the Smithfield Chamber of Commerce for more than 30 years and was awarded a Life Membership in January 1997 by the Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Centenary United Methodist Church with the Dr. Bruce Taylor and the Rev. Richard Williams to officiate. Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery.

Surviving are his daughters, Jan Branch and husband John of Smithfield, Margaret Davis and husband Phil of Smithfield and Bennett Waters and husband Marty of Charlotte; sisters, Mary Elizabeth Dufty of Charlotte and Ava Seal of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren, John and James Branch, Elizabeth and Drew Davis and Martin and Caroline Waters.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Monday at the Underwood Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Centenary United Methodist Church, 140 East Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577.