James Bivins

JAMES THOMAS BIVINS, SR. was born July 13, 1931 to James Robert Bivins and Margaret Thomas Bivins, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the second of six children, including one sister (Rose Williams) who preceded him in death. His family moved to Lothian, Md. in Anne Arundel County where "Jimmy," as he was affectionately called, graduated from Bates High School in Annapolis in 1947 at the age of fifteen. After finishing Bates, Jimmy went to Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va. where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Auto Mechanics in 1950 at the age of eighteen. After completing Hampton, Jimmy went to work at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland where he was the first black heavy-duty diesel mechanic. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. Jimmy's teaching career started in Cheltenham, Md. at Boy's Village as an auto-mechanic teacher. During this time he met Margaret Taylor of Charlotte, N.C. and they married on June 27, 1959. After they married, they both taught at Boy's Village until they came to Baltimore in 1961. After returning to Baltimore, Jimmy taught in the Baltimore City School System at Fairmont Hill Vocational High School in the sixties, at Lake Clifton High School from 1970 to 1985, and was the cluster coordinator at Westside Skill Center until he retired in 1989. Jimmy joined the Wayland Baptist Church and was baptized by the Rev. W.W. Payne. When the church moved to Garrison Boulevard, Jimmy became a trustee and served in that capacity for a few years. Jimmy loved working on cars and could be found on any day looking under the hood of a neighbor's car. He derived much pleasure from helping friends and neighbors (especially when they needed help on cars). Everyone who knew him found him jovial, congenial, and always helpful. Many of his students and former students visited him often for advice, guidance and just plain fellowship. When Jimmy's health began to fail his former co-workers, neighbors, friends and other relatives would make calls and visits often. His wife was always there encouraging and helping him. Jimmy's last days on earth were spent at the Gilchrist Hospice Center where he peacefully answered the call to come home on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 10:30 p.m. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Margaret Taylor Bivins; son, James T. Bivins Jr.; daughter, Angela D. Bivins Otero; two grandchildren, Evan Otero and Owyn Otero all of Baltimore, Md.; mother, Margaret Thomas Bivins of Lothian, Md.; two brothers, Leonard E. Bivins (Ernestine) of Lanham, Md. and Robert P. Bivins of Lothian, Md.; two sisters, Betty Chase (Ralph V.) of Randallstown, Md. and Dr. Margaret Brown of Baltimore, Md.; two brothers-in-law, Carlton Williams of Randallstown, Md. and Everett Taylor of Charlotte, N.C.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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James Bivins

July 13, 1931 - April 18, 2006