Andrea Denise Bitting James was born on Friday, October 2, 1953, in Winston-Salem, NC to Margaret Byers Bitting and James Miller, who both preceded her in death. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, LaDonna Clark; brothers, Grady Byers and Barry Bitting; her sister-in-law, Celestie Byers; and maternal grandparents, Amos & Eliza Byers. Andrea went home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 11, 2024.

Andrea was affectionately known by everyone as Denise, her middle name, from a young age.  As a child, she loved to read, roller skate, and play jack rocks.  She attended public schools in Winston-Salem and graduated from Parkland High School in 1970.  She earned an Associate Degree in Accounting Studies in her young adult years and went on to work for the Accounts Payable Department at the City of Winston-Salem.  She retired to become a homemaker in September of 1985 after the birth of her second daughter, Nikki.

Andrea married her high school sweetheart, Bobby James, on Saturday, August 18, 1973, and from their 50-year union they have many loving memories.   They had a lifelong love that produced two daughters, Nasha and Nikki.

Andrea accepted Christ at a very young age and was baptized at Rising Ebenezer Baptist Church where she was a member until the Lord led her to attend church as a family with her husband.  At Rising Ebenezer, she served as a Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Advisor, Youth Usher Advisor, and Missionary.  In 1992, she became a member of her husband's home church, Dreamland Park Baptist Church.  She served as Trustee, Youth Advisor, Adult Choir Member, Sunday School Teacher, Young Adult Missionary Advisor, and Deaconess.  Over fifteen years ago, the Lord led her and Bobby to join Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.  She was a member there until her death.  She served as Servant Leader of the Missionary Ministry, Deaconess, and a member of the Board of Directors.   No matter what church she attended, she always was a lifelong member of Sunday School and Wednesday Night Bible Study.

Andrea was an avid learner, and the importance of education was instilled in her at an early age.  She was always learning and expanding her knowledge. She was meticulous, detailed-oriented, and a great organizer.  She had a photographic memory.  Her quest for knowledge of the Lord led her to attend New Hope Bible College where she earned an Associate of Biblical Studies with Cum Laude Honors in 1998 and a Bachelor of Biblical Studies with Summa Cum Laude Honors in 2001. She was a passionate missionary and took missionary work very serious from a young age.  She has always served as a missionary and given back to others her entire life.  It was important to her that she was in service to God and others.  She took Jesus' great commission to heart and choose to live a life of service until her death.  In December of 2023 after her last surgery, she received monetary and food gifts from friends and church members to help with recovery.  She in turn used that to do Christ's work to purchase goods and serve meals to the homeless of Atlanta.  She stressed to her missionary ministry that it takes money to do missionary work. Her last missionary project was purchasing, collecting, organizing, and distributing hats, gloves, and socks, and Valentine's chocolates to 60 homeless people of Atlanta in February 2024.    Andrea enjoyed family gatherings, vacations, live music, festivals, and shopping until she dropped.

She leaves to cherish memories her husband, Bobby James of the city; daughters, Nasha Sanders of Atlanta, GA and Nikki James of Union City, GA; grandson, Channing Sanders of Atlanta, GA and granddaughter-in-love, Chloe Johnson of Greenville, NC; brother, Lynn (Marie) Bitting of Kernersville, NC; a devoted niece, Bridgett (Isaac) Pitts; brothers-in-law, Donald Clark, William (Cathy) Wicker, and Lothell James; sister-in-law, Wanda James; Goddaughter (great-niece), MaSasha Staley; Godson, Norman Johnson, Jr.; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Friday, March 15, 2024 at Russell Funeral Home.

A family visitation will be held from 6:30pm until 7:30pm Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30am Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 11:30 am on Saturday at the Church.