James attend 20th Street Elementary School in 1970-1973, when he later moved to Atlanta, GA. In Atl he attend Booker T. Washington until he graduated in 1975. He started working in construction work, until his untimely death. James lived in Atl until he moved back to his hometown Tuscaloosa, AL. There he met and married his wife Jackie Leatherwood in Sept 2000, where they lived happily.