Having suffered the heart wrenching loss of their only child in a house fire, James and Crittie Myatt anxiously awaited the birth of their baby girl. James would not live to see her arrival, and Crittie would die in a matter of months from her birth. But God's tender mercies would not abandon her alone in the world, James Augusta would be reared by her mother's sister, Ella Harrell, who loved and cared for her as greatly as if she had been the fruit of her own womb. Most significantly, Ella taught her daughter to know, love and serve the Lord.
Gregarious by nature, she possessed a genuine love for people, for music and learning for its own sake. At 12 years of age she began playing the piano for Petty's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in her hometown of Bessemer. Through the years, she served God with her musical abilities in instrumentation and voice, in churches and the classroom. Beginning her college matriculation at Alabama State, she completed her baccalaureate degree at Miles College. This equipped her for her life's vocation and ministry as a classroom teacher in the Jefferson County and Birmingham School Systems. She had a genuine passion and ability for inspiring children to learn. Her Miles experience brought about two other events of great significance, her life long love affair with the C.M.E. Church, and her romance and subsequent marriage to Charlie Agee. Of their 3 children, only one survived. They brought him to the altar of Miles Chapel C.M.E. Church, where they dedicated him to the Lord. At Miles Chapel, she directed the music ministry and ministry to youth. She later became a member of Thirgood, where she actively participated in the life of the congregation, as well as the ministry of the church beyond the local level.
She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Charles Jr., two daughters-in-law, Bonita Sneed Agee and Willie Mae Lewis, five grandchildren, Ryan, Charles III, James, Alexander, and Lauren, seven great-grandchildren, and a host of relatives, friends and former students. She would commend to us all, her great word regarding life and death, "'Consider it a sin to die. until you have won some great victory for our God and King!”
Funeral Services for Mrs. James Augsuta Agee were held Friday, May 9, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Thirgood Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama with the Reverend Clarence K. Heath, Officiating. Interment was held in the Zion Memorial Gardens.