Willie “7-Up” James, 84, was born September 26, 1932. He has been a resident of Port Arthur since 1954. He was employed with 7-Up Bottling Company of Beaumont and retired in 1997. He transitioned on May 11, 2017 at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home of Groves, TX.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lillie Mae James; his Godchild, Renatta Joshua and a host of other relatives and friends.

Celebration of Life will be Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Gabriel Funeral Home at 11am, with Dr. Airon Reynolds, Jr., officiating. Interment will be at Live Oak Memorial Park in Nederland TX.  The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time.