James Baxter McFarlin, Jr. was born on Saturday, June 13, 1959, in Savannah, Georgia. He was the eldest of four children.  He died on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in his home.

Spiritually, James was a baptized believer. He was confirmed and a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem for most of his early childhood. He completed his confirmation classes at St. Mark's. James attended many other churches throughout his life and was a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord for all his life.

With his family, James traveled to and lived in many states (Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Kansas, Colorado, and California) across the country.

James graduated from Harrison High School in Colorado Springs, CO. He met Billie Jean Andrade and fell in love. James and Billie Jean welcomed Monica Denise McFarlin on March 14, 1984.

James attended Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs and completed courses in Commercial Art. Years later he graduated with an Associate degree in Graphic Arts from Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem. He was an extraordinarily talented artist and appeared on Cable TV and taught art classes to children.  James joined the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem Inc. in 2001 and remained a member for many years.  He won his first show at a New Year's exhibition in the Year 2002. In 2003, he was elected to the Board of Directors of Associated Artists and was a member of the Exhibition committee.  James maintained several websites over the years displaying his artwork and most recently, the ecommerce website associated with Fine Arts of America.  James' main media was acrylics and he also enjoyed working with ceramics, plastic carving, pen and ink, and charcoal pencil drawing. His style varied with a mixture of fantasy, primitivism, surrealism and sometimes monochrome with his favorite subjects being animals and humans. Several of James' works of art are whimsical depictions of his play on words. Throughout the years, James received numerous awards, commendations, and recognition for his artwork.

James was very proud of his daughter, Monica's artistic skills and abilities.

James was very ambitious and often worked on many projects (his websites and illustrated mugs he marketed and sold to the medical community) at the same time. Most recently, he wrote and illustrated a children's book about his grandsons, Ansel Maggart and Casimir McFarlin, and was working towards getting it published. James was very creative and was constantly coming up with ideas for new business ventures.

James was very outgoing and loved engaging anybody in a conversation on any topic. James never met a stranger and would help whoever he could within his means. He was a voracious reader and he especially loved to talk about current events, history, archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology, and other sciences. He was a natural teacher and had a passion for sharing knowledge. James loved nature, animals, cartoons, movies, music, learning, and his family. Although allergic to cooked fish, James developed a passion for fishing at an early age and loved fishing.

James is predeceased by his father, James B. McFarlin, Sr., stepsister, Tonya Henderson McPhatter, Aunts (Barbara Jean, Mae Frances, Margaret, Mildred, and Velma), uncles (William and Jimmy), grandparents, (Luther and Mildred Woods and Helen and Harmon McFarlin).

James is survived by his beloved daughter, Monica McFarlin (Lance Maggart), grandsons, Ansel and Casimir, mother, Joan Henderson, stepfather, James Henderson, sisters, Jennifer McFarlin, Janet McFarlin, and Jackie McFarlin Meadows (Jimmy), stepbrother, James Henderson, Jr., a host of special aunts (notably, Priscilla and Runetta), special uncle, Preston McFarlin, nieces, Aisha McFarlin, Justina Meadows and Hillary McPhatter, great niece, Leonie Josanna (L.J.) Meadows, nephews, John G. Van Ness, III, (Jack), James Asa Meadows (Anessa), Ahmad Gaines, James Henderson, III,  and a host of cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

A homegoing service will be held 12 noon Saturday June 22, 2024 in the chapel of Hooper Funeral Home.The family will receive friends from 11am-12 noon at the funeral on Saturday.