James Walker Ocean

James W. Ocean was born in McColl, South Carolina to Mr. Walker Ocean and Mrs. Annie Mae Ocean. He was the second of eight siblings. James had his early education in the schools of Clio, SC, and later attended East Side Jr. High in Bennettsville, SC. James was drafted into the U.S. Army in February of 1969 and served tours in W. Germany and Ft. Devens, MA. After being honorably discharged in 1973 he returned to Bennettsville and resided there until making his home in Brooklyn, NY. There he met Phyllis Bowman, who would become the love of his life. They were married on May 25th, 1984 and he became the step-father to Stafford Maurice. Later to this union were born two children, James W. Ocean Jr. (Jay) and Janine Marie Ocean. Janine would precede him in death on July 10th, 1998. After a long residence in Brooklyn, James and his family moved back to Bennettsville and once again made Bennettsville their home where he resided until death.

As a young man, James was a true leader among his peers. He was always independent, holding several jobs since his childhood. As a teenager, he was well known to many in Bennettsville when he worked for B. Sanders Philips 66 Service Station on Cheraw Street for a few years. James was an avid storyteller and lifelong Oakland Raiders fan. His family and friends looked forward to his exciting stories of his timeserving in the U.S. Army in Europe. He would talk for hours about his adventures while driving trucks on the snow-covered roads all over Germany, and he loved to tell of his fishing exploits, (how he pulled in the big one that nearly got away). However, one day he pulled an eel out of the lake, thinking it was a snake; he dropped his pole, left everything, and ran for safety. His friends never let him live it down.

The family is receiving friends at 309 King Street, Bennettsville.

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