A Life and Legacy Remembered

James Slaughter was born July 28, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York to the late James Slaughter and Margaret Street Carrington.  James’ father passed prior to his birth, and he was raised in a loving home with his mother and stepfather, Jacob Carrington.  Along with his siblings, (Carrie, William/Billy, Ora, and Ellen) – James’ childhood years were spent at 606 Broadway in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.  James attended elementary school P.S. 168, Mark Hopkins Junior High School, and he graduated from Eastern District High School.  James was a member of All Saints Roman Catholic Church in the Williamsburg district where he was baptized.  He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia and was honorably discharged in 1963.

James was affectionately known among family and friends as Jamesey Boy, Mimi, Jimmy, and ‘Slaughter’. As the patriarch of the family, “Uncle Jimmy” was a loving father figure for many of his nieces and nephews from the cradle to adulthood.  He was both dedicated and proud of his responsibility to serve as a role model and mentor. The stories of their childhood years and the good times spent together were some of Uncle Jimmy’s most cherished memories.  Through commitment and perseverance, Jimmy completed much of his family’s genealogy on Ancestry.com, and he enjoyed passing along his love of family and history to the next generations.  He often spoke of his desire that his family members would “keep your family love on speed dial in a pocket next to your heart.” 

James’ primary employment was at Kingsboro Psychiatric Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Among other positions, “Mr. Slaughter” was a beloved counselor with the Youth Opportunity Program (Y.O.P.), an after-school work program.  He worked with hundreds of youths over 25-years and has maintained contact with many former students up until the time of his illness.  His career of service with New York State was more than 33 years.  ‘Mr. Slaughter’ was the counselor who became a mentor and remained a friend even after he left New York and moved to Florida, and eventually North Carolina.

Jimmy’s lifelong passions included deep sea fishing, cooking, old school music, movies, history, and nature.  He was a champion of trivia, including music and movies of which he maintained a diverse collection of both.  Having cookouts, sharing family meals together, and telling stories about anything and everything was always a happy time for Jimmy. In recent years he was blessed to bond with a third generation of nieces and nephews.

Jimmy departed his earthly life on January 2, 2022, following a brief illness. In addition to his parents, James Slaughter, Margaret Carrington and stepfather, Jacob Carrington, “Jamesey Boy” was predeceased by a brother: William Carrington; four sisters:  Anna Kate (John Albert) McKinney, Carrie (John) Miller, Ora (Rhett) Goodwin and Ellen (Andre) Hostler. 

Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Cynthia Young-Slaughter (Concord, NC); sisters-in-law Lorraine Carrington, Tisha Ramsey, Yvonne Young, Dolores Chavies, Shoshana (Zadok)  Benyamin, and Linda Belton; brothers-in-law Michael (Malcha) Ben Levi, Segun (Ellen Lee) Shabaka, Anthony (Linda) Young, and Randy (Bunni) Young; stepson, Jeremiah (Joyice) Myers; loving nieces Cheryl Westbrook, Belinda Goodwin-Townsend, Ellen Nelson, Renee King, Lorraine Carrington, Karen Carrington, Kim Carrington, Wendy Jordan, Elaine McKinney, DeAnna Ako-Asare, Evelyn McKinney-Shelto, Roslyn McKinney-Harris, Gwendolyn McKinney-Hodge, Jamila Boyd, and Tafaun Boyd-Stinnie; loving nephews Jose (Goodwin) Crepso, Corey Carrington, Kelly Goodwin, Levy Nelson, Dean Hostler, and Derrick Hostler; special caregiver great niece and nephew: Ora S. Goodwin and Tyrone Goodwin; and a host of many great and great-great nieces and nephews who loved him dearly; special first cousins Beverly Kirkland and Patricia Street; lifelong friends: Art (Carol) Brakefield, Jimmy (Jean) Manley, Tony (Earlene) Hale,  Geraldine Sherard, Joyce (Ludy) Stanford, Cynthia Charles, Daniel Dawson,  Ed (Carolyn) Lawson, Gus Sanders, Kenny Rice, Roger (Margo) Davis, Trina Lloyd, Dr. Stefan Sherman; and Valerie G. Darrell ;  Y.O.P. students: Alonzo Leroy, Anthony Price, Chasidah Rogers, Cicero Jackson, Denise Solomon, Doug Mansell, Flo Bryant, Hyacinth Spivey, Laverne Banks, Lorraine Thompson, Marilyn Brimfield, Reshonah & Jerome Kirby, Sandra Watson, Sherrie Harris, Vincent Wilds, and William Hernandez; a host of cousins and friends among others. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.