James Allen Highsmith, 87, passed away March 25, 2022 at Riverside Hospital after a long battle with asbestosis. With the exception of a brief stint in the army, he lived his entire adult life in Newport News Virginia. He graduated Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School and received an associate degree in Business from Saint Leo College and worked as a supervisor in the Newport News Shipyard for 41 years. Jim was a Christian and an active member of Denbigh United Presbyterian Church. He was an amateur carpenter, and made wonderful things for his family including doll houses for his grandchildren, china cabinets and even a sail boat. Jim was fascinated with anything that had wheels or a motor including cars, trucks, trains and even wheel chairs. He was stayed active well into his 70s enjoying all kinds of sports including sailing, wind surfing, skiing, rollerblading and biking. He loved to travel to new places, but he actually enjoyed going anywhere and was always ready to grab his keys just to run errands around town. Everything was an adventure and he could make anything fun even a trip to the grocery store. Jim will be remembered most of all for his many stories and self-deprecating humor. Up until his last days, he was making his family as well as the nurses and doctors laugh. If we lost track of him anywhere, we could listen for the sound of laughter to find him.

Jim is survived in death by his wife of 60 years, Helen P. Highsmith; his children, Kathy (Steve) Tobacco, Jay (Debbie) Highsmith; grandchildren, Linda (Max) Kovtoun, Stephanie (MaryKate) Tobacco, and Zachary (Makayla) Highsmith; as well as four great grandchildren; his brothers, Leslie (June) Highsmith and Ty (Debbie) Highsmith and Bobby (Jean) Highsmith; four surrogate grandchildren, Vaniah, Caleb, Joshua, and Anah Taylor. Jim is preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Highsmith; his mother, Julia Hancock Highsmith; his father, Ray Highsmith; his brothers, Ken Highsmith, Louis Highsmith, Richard Highsmith; and sister, Elizabeth Kelly.

Please join us in celebrating his life Saturday afternoon April 2, 2:00 pm at Denbigh United Presbyterian Church. We give special thanks to neighbors Jett and Linda Taylor for their grace, generosity, and kindness. No one could ask for better friends and neighbors. We will be eternally thankful to God for them. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Denbigh United Presbyterian Church.