James Haskins

James Hamilton "Jim" Haskins, 83, of Colonial Heights, passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the Colonial Heights Health Care Center. He was predeceased by his lovely wife of 34 years, Arie Mae Kitchen Haskins; his grandparents on his mother's side, J. William Dance Sr. and Maude Aters Dance; uncle, Staff-Sgt. J. William Dance Jr., U.S. Air Force, World War II; his parents, William Sidney Haskins and Lucille Dance Haskins; former owner of Dutch Garden Bar-B-Q; his brother, William Meade Haskins Sr.; and his step-son, Hugh Leslie Tipton. Jim graduated from Petersburg High School, Class of 1950, and attended the University of Richmond for two years, 1950-1952. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 during the Korean War, and served two years of active duty and six years of inactive duty. In 1960 he received an honorable discharge with the rank of Corporal. Jim loved baseball and participated in it for several years. He played for the Petersburg American Legion Post #2 team in the forties, Petersburg High School 1948-1949, and University of Richmond in 1951. In addition he played in the Chesterfield County League with the Colonial Heights Athletic Club, the Colonial Heights Rebels and Lakeview. In October of 1954 he began his 38 year, two and one-half month banking career. In 1954 he was employed by Petersburg Savings & American Trust Company, in 1961 by merger, First & Merchants National Bank, in 1984 by merger, Sovran Bank, in 1989 by merger, C&S/Sovran Bank, and in 1991 by merger, Nations Bank from which he retired January 1, 1993. Since his retirement, the bank has become Bank of America. Jim worked in retail branch banking, including wrapping coin, verifying currency, head and regular tellers, commercial and installment loan departments, general ledger, bookkeeping, and transit. The savings department was the only exception to where he worked. In 1956 Petersburg Savings built the first branch bank at Chappel & W. Washington Streets, and Jim was the drive-in teller. A second branch was built in 1959 in Walnut Hill and he was the manager from 1959-1963. In 1963 he transferred to Colonial Heights Pickwick to assist his friend, E. William "Bill" Smith. Jim became manager of the Colonial Heights branches in 1972 and in 1975 the present branch of Bank of America at the Boulevard and Temple Avenue known then as First & Merchants National Bank, was opened December 31, 1975, and he was manager through 1979. In 1980 Jim transferred back to Petersburg to be manager of the N. Sycamore & W. Tabb Streets branch and Tri-cities operational officer. Jim was promoted to Assistant-cashier in 1958, to Assistant Vice-president in 1968, and to Vice-president in 1972. According to Jim, "most" of his banking career was enjoyable. He is survived by a brother, Robert Bolling Haskins Sr., whose status is unknown; step-son, Donald Edward Tipton and wife, Terry of Jacksonville Beach, Florida; step-grandson, Shane Edward Tipton and wife, Marcia of Columbia, South Carolina; step-granddaughter, Jennifer Elaine Epperson and husband, Ricky of Jacksonville, Florida, and two step-great-grandchildren, Dylan Thomas Tipton and Lila Yvonne Tipton both of Columbia, South Carolina. At Jim's request there will be no visitation or viewing. A graveside service with military honors will be conducted at the Haskins square in Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2014 by the Reverend Fred Adkins Jr. of Immanuel Baptist Church of which Jim was a member. Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 620 Lafayette Avenue, Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834. Arrangements by the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.