Hunter Lee James Sr., 86, died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018, at his home. James was born on July 23, 1932, in Winston-Salem to the late Cletus Hunter James and Sylvia Fearrington James.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Brian Patrick Lee.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ellen Poynor James; sons Hunter Lee James Jr. (Donna) and David Michael James (Emily); daughter Ellen James Lee; grandson Christopher Hunter James; granddaughter Ashley Catherine James; two great-grandchildren; and brother Kerry Michael James.

James graduated from Old Town High School in 1950 and from Wake Forest College in 1954 and embarked upon a career as a journalist and author. He wrote "The Quiet People of the Land," a history of the North Carolina Moravians, and "They Didn't Put That on the Huntley-Brinkley," which recounted his experiences covering the civil rights movement for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Greensboro News and Record and the Baltimore Sun, among many other books. His newspaper career also included stints in Lynchburg, Va., where he met his wife, Richmond, Va., and at the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel, where his contributions as an editorial writer helped the newspaper win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1971.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, December 8, 2018  at Beck's Baptist Church Cemetery with visitation to follow at the home of Lee and Donna James in Winston-Salem.

Memorials may be made to AIM at Melanoma, in memory of his son-in-law Brian Lee, 3040 Cutting Blvd., Richmond, CA 94804 or to any children's charity.