James Gold Cornette

OCRACOKE– James Gold Cornette, 67, comfortably passed from this world to thenext on Sept. 3, 2010, leaving a wake of giggling nurses and healthcareproviders shaking their heads.  He was the son of Grady andElaineCornette and husband of the incredibly tolerant Rebecca SwanzeyCornette.

James grew up in Charlotte, where he was a star baseball player andathlete in high school and college.  He was on his way to themajor leagues when knee injuries sent him down his other pathway as ateacher.  He taught in tough Charlotte City Schools beforesettling with his young family on Ocracoke, where he and Becky raisedtheir three boys.  He completed his 30-year career as ateacher,teaching from one generation through the other at OcracokeSchool. 

James lived his life by surrounding himself in fun, sarcasm, and humor,always first draw with the one-liner.  He lived to poke funwithor brighten the moment of anyone having a bad day.  A talentedcloset artist, he painted and drew Patrick and “Spongesquare Bobpants,”creating their new adventures to the delight of hisgrandkids. James always had a soft spot for anyone in need and was a champion forthe underdog.  He was actually seen negotiating Mexican streetvendors up on their prices because he thought they needed theadditional pesos.

He is preceded in death by his parents and wife.  He issurvivedby his brother Milton (Myrtle) and family of Charlotte and his sons,Jim (Ellen) Cornette of Hampstead, Eric (Katie) of Fountain, and Daniel(Patricia) of Boone.  He is missed tremendously by his family,butespecially by his grandkids, Lisa, Pedro, CJ, Frazer, andgreat-grandkids Spencer and Camden.

His legacy remains within all of the hearts that he touched, as well asthe school kids that he worked to start their lives out “TipperTopper!” 

A celebration of James’ life will be held at 3 p.m.on Thursday, Sept.9, at Ocracoke United Methodist Church.  There will be a timeofvisitation from 2 to 3:00 p.m. just before the service.  Inlieuof flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the OcracokeSchool College Fund, P.O. Box 1277, Hampstead, NC 28443.

Twiford Funeral Homes’ Island Chapel, Hatteras, NC is assisting thefamily with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.twifordfh.com.