James Fox Memorial Fund

On May 26, our beloved Subdeacon, James Fox reposed. An interaction with Subdeacon James was imbued with the same divine energy contained in St Seraphim of Sarov's tender greeting, "my joy!" He served as a prolific educator in his life. Yet, witnessing him in his time of death was a humbling education to us all. 

As a radiant chanter, enthusiastic teacher, and friend to all, James was a gift to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
 
Donations in his memory will be directed by his wife Mary to beautify and enrich St. Nicholas, either through the commissioning of an icon, to the building fund, or some other appropriate memorial. 

Everlasting be your memory, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory.

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James Bernard Fox, age 67 of Jackson, passed away on May 26, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family.

Mr. Fox was born on July 23, 1955 in Brookline, MA to the late Bernard James and Margery O’Lalor Fox.

He is an ordained Subdeacon who served as an educator. His greatest pleasure came from teaching the youth and children in his ministry as a Church School teacher at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Jackson. Currently he is a doctoral candidate (Ph.D.c.) in the Heritage Studies Program at Arkansas State University, where he recently earned his Masters. Previously he taught Old Testament studies at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, studied at Holy Cross School of Theology, and earned his Certificate in Practical Theology through the St. Stephen's Program at the Antiochian House of Studies. He taught New Testament Greek and Biblical Literature at Lyell College, and American History at Osceola High School in Arkansas. He was a Librarian while at St. Tikhons and at Lyell College, a Museum Docent at the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess, Arkansas, and a founding member of an online newspaper (The Electric PowWow Press), for which he wrote cultural pieces primarily on music and history.

He served his country with honor in the United States Army Medical Corps at the Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO during the Gulf War (1990-1991) and then with the 348th General Hospital in Folsom PA (1991-1994).

Previous to his military service, he had completed a full career as a social worker and literacy educator in Philadelphia, after earning his Masters in Human Services at Lincoln University (HBCU) in Oxford PA. He was an exceptional counselor who worked with the poor, the homeless, those with mental disorders, and Vietnam-era Veterans with PTSD. He started as a Child Care Worker at the Eastern State School and Mental Hospital in Bensalem Township, PA then became the Partial Hospitalization and the Vocational and Educational Rehabilitation coordinator at Northwest Center in Philadelphia from 1985-1988. Concurrently he worked as the Director of the Dual Diagnosed Intensive Case Management at Horizon House in Philadelphia and as the Intensive Case Manager at the Community Council Mental Health Systems from 1988-1990.

He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, but was the product of Catholic education at Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem Township, PA.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Jennifer Mary Fox of Jackson; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Fr. John Maxwell and Mat. Debra Maxwell, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Peter and Andrea Maxwell, and nephew Elijah Maxwell.