Bernice Shelton James, 69, ex-refinery worker

Bernice Shelton James, 69, of Woodbury, a former refinery worker, died of cancer Jan. 20 at home.

Mrs. James grew up in South Philadelphia and attended Philadelphia High School for Girls. For several years, she took classes at Gloucester County College.

In 1973, finding herself a single parent of seven children after the departure of her husband, her daughter Jacqualynn said, Mrs. James went to work at the DuPont Chambers Works plant in Deepwater, N.J.

In 1981, she began working at Texaco's Eagle Point refinery in West Deptford.

After the refinery was bought by Coastal Oil, Mrs. James became an Americorps volunteer, from 1995 to 2000, tutoring students at John Bartram High School and at Shaw Middle School at 54th Street and Warrington Avenue.

From 2000 to 2004, Mrs. James was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, organizing students from around the country to help build houses in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Besides her daughter Jacqualynn, Mrs. James is survived by her mother, Mary Brown; son Byron; daughters Selette James-Stevenson, Myrna, Merritt, Mychelle, and Gabbreell; 22 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Her former husband, William, survives.

A memorial service is to take place from 3 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Woodbury Friends Meeting House, 120 N. Broad St., Woodbury.

Contributions can be made to the Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia 19131.