Deacon James Albert Young

James Albert Young was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to the late James and Louise Young. He was educated in the Memphis City Public School System. He received a four-year athletic scholarship to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with concentrations in History and Government. He also completed an MBA at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

James Albert confessed a belief in Christ at the age of 12 at the Magnolia First Baptist Church in Memphis. He served as a deacon at Emmanuel MB Church where Rev. Jessie Horton Sr. is the pastor. He was the teacher of the weekly Evangelism class, a member of the Laymen Ministry, served on the School Board for Emmanuel Christian School for 8 years and a speaker at the Midweek Service.

He served 26 years in the United States Army retiring as a Lt. Colonel. While in service, he was stationed and commanded bases in Germany, Vietnam, South Korea and Africa. He was a graduate of the Basic and Advanced Infantry Officers Schools and the Command and General Staff College. He served in Combat with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1967-68 and the 10th Special Forces in Bad Tolz, Germany. He also served as an airborne Paratrooper, Ranger and Special Forces (Green Beret).

His awards and commendations include the Combat Infantry Man Badge, the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was also inducted into the Lincoln University Athletic Hall of Fame; selected by the Pittsburgh Courier Newspaper to the HBCU 2nd Team All-American Squad, and chosen to give the keynote speech at the 2015 Annual Lincoln University Alumni Banquet in Columbus, Ohio. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. James is remembered most fondly for his excellent memory and story-telling.

James departed this life on July 11, 2025, and was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother, Wilbur Dave, his son, Derrick, and brother-in-law, Charles Powell Jr.

He leaves to cherish his memory: His beautiful and devoted wife, Charlotte; two daughters, Courtney Young, New York and Denisha Udje, Arlington, TX; a son, Christopher Young (April) Newman, GA, fifteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves to cherish his memory, three sisters: Rev. Marian Talley, Jackson, MS, Martha Jones, Los Angeles, CA, and Dorothy Cochran (Eddie), College Park, GA; four brothers: Melvin Douglas, Carson, CA, Sammie Gene (Mary Ann), Melbourne, FL, Rev. George Young (Patricia), Oklahoma City, OK, and Joe Reginald (Nadina), Olive Branch, MS; father and mother-in-law, Charles and Fannie Powell, brother-in-law, Gregory Kendrick, and four sisters-in-law: Janice, Valerie (Allen), Sezzie all of Terry, MS and Rhonda Berzat of Crystal Springs, MS, and a host of nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, other family, fraternity brothers, church members, neighbors and friends.

Deacon Young’s scripture of inspiration is Proverbs 4:7: “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.”