Welcome to Jaycee’s World.

James Cleveland Curry aka “Jaycee” was born in May of 1929 to the late Marcus Alzono and Mary Elizabeth Gibson Curry, the third child of 19 children at the beginning of The Great Depression.

He attended Jones Runn Elementary School and graduated from the historic Julius Rosenwald School, Reedsville, VA.

He married the love of his life, Shirley Mae Hill of White Stone, VA. “Jaycee” and Shirley were both the children of watermen.

My father harvested the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding waters as an independent commercial waterman; fishing, tonging for oysters, and crabbing.

Despite the long hard hours, unpredictable weather conditions and hardships endured in a segregated society, he found time to organize baseball teams to play with neighboring county teams. He also coached the neighborhood boys to play baseball, football and basketball, usually as a player himself, giving no quarter to anyone.

He was a Marine serving in one of the first integrated platoons, and was in combat in the Korea Police Action.

His passion and dedication to serve continued by serving twenty-two years with the Northumberland County, VA Wetlands Board, District 3 and the Department of Social Services, from 1980-1989, and as their Chairman of the Board, from 1987-1989. One of his favorite duties was participating in the Meals-on-Wheels program, visiting and sharing with those who were receiving the service.

He was an avid member of the Northumberland Booster Club and a member of “The Chain Gang” during Northumberland High School home football games. They are the folks that mark off yardages on the field.

He loved Country and Western music; loud and proud. The Blues. Westerns, particularly “Rawhide,” “Have Gun, Will Travel,” and “Gunsmoke”. Sunrises. NASCAR with Kyle Busch as his favorite driver, “The Andy Griffith Show,” The New York Giants…and a good meal!