Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mr. James Laprade, 87, of Whipple, WV passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at Ohio State University East, Columbus, OH following a long illness. Born June 15, 1933 in Milan Valley, WV, he was the son of the late Benjamin and Louvenia Laprade. James retired as a welder at C&O Railroad Company. He was a loving father who was a fighter till the end; he touched many lives. He always talked to everyone about God and had plenty of wisdom. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Maxcine Laprade; sons, Baby Laprade, Michael “Tony” Laprade and Leonard Laprade; mother-in-law, Rosa Ross; father-in-law, John O’Neal; brothers, Benjamin, Earl, Herbert and George; sister, Gladys Williams and granddaughter, Radiance Whitmore. Left to cherish precious memories are his sons, Romeo Laprade of Clarksville, TN, James (Gwen) Laprade Jr. of Miami, FL, Kenneth (Renee) Laprade of Temple Hills, MD and Lamont Laprade of Scarbro, WV; daughters, Shelby Allen of Winston-Salem, NC, Louvenia (James) Braxton of Columbus, OH and Lorraine (Harold) Davenport of Columbus, OH; seventeen grandchildren; fifty-five great-grandchildren; two aunts, Ruby Lee Jackson and Edith Jenkins; and a host of other relatives and friends. Private funeral service will be 12:00Noon, Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 8687 Gatewood Road, Fayetteville, with Pastors Clifford “Jim” Riley and Keith Walker officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity. Friends, while wearing gloves and masks and observing social distancing, may pay their respects to the family beginning at 11:00AM. Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com. Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.