James Parsons Lamb

James Parsons Lamb, 91, of Hendersonville, NC, died peacefully on Thursday, October 16, 2025. A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant on November 28, 2025.

Born in Charleston, Jimmy was the son of the late James Julius Lamb and Kristine Parsons Maree. He graduated from Charleston High School, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953- 1957. Upon completion of his military service, Jimmy began his career working on the waterfront, starting as a checker on the docks. He worked his way up through the ranks, becoming president of Palmetto Shipping and Stevedoring Companies in 1967, and one of the youngest executives on the Charleston waterfront. During his time with Palmetto, Jimmy was elected to several waterfront boards, serving as the president on both the Charleston Maritime Association and the National Association of Stevedores; the Commissioner of Pilotage for the Port of Charleston; the SC employer’s representative in negotiations with the International Longshoreman’s Association; and a board member of the National Association of the Stevedores.

At the end of his 40 year career, Jimmy served as a negotiator with the Southeast Stevedores Association, at one point serving as chief negotiator. At Jimmy’s retirement, the ILA representative who sat across the negotiating table from him called him a “gentlemen’s gentleman,” explaining that he “displayed nothing but respect and manners for everyone during contract negotiations. Even when the room was on fire and discussions were very heated [he] remained calm during the storm.”

Jimmy was loved for his kindness and compassion, his keen wit and expressive eyes. He was happily married for 35 years to the late Caroline Pinckney Lamb, with whom he had 3 children. He was blessed to have a second happy marriage of 33 years to Leta Sue Carlson Lamb, and upon his retirement they moved to Western North Carolina. He spent many contented hours in his woodworking shop.

He will be greatly missed by his children, Deni Lamb Sibley and her husband, Mark, of Camden, SC; JuLee Lamb of Gainesville, GA; and Jimmy Lamb, Jr and his wife, Debbie, of Mount Pleasant; his grandchildren, David Sibley and his wife, Em; Michael Sibley; Alex Gilliland; Callie Lamb Robertson and her husband, Daniel; Leta Kate Lamb; and Jason Ortega and his wife, Ashlea; his great-granddaughter, Nora Sibley; his sister, Paula Lamb Lilienthal and her husband, Robbie; and family friend, David Ortega.

The family would like to thank the staff of Medical Center Carolina Village and Four Seasons Hospice for their loving and compassionate care of Jimmy,

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.