Jamie Albert LeFevre, icon of the West Side of Charleston, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Thomas Memorial Hospital.

Jamie was born in Staats Hospital, May 27, 1949 to the late Betty Lou Jinks LeFevre and Albert Roy Lefevre.

Preceding him in death are his mother and father, who died tragically in 1951, when Jamie was only 18 months old, leaving Betty Lou as the sole caretaker.

Jamie was also preceded in death by his beloved sister, Debbie Royanne Jinks Cochran; brother-in-law, Will Cochran of Campbells Creek; brother-in-law, Donny Cooney of Charleston; and four best buddies, Chardonnay, Nautica, Khaki, and Umi.

He is survived by his wife, Cornelia LeFevre; stepchildren, Rob, "Sissie", Christopher Hedges (Krissy); grandson, Ben, all of Charleston; sister, Patty Cooney of Charleston; nieces, Amy Shafer (Scott), Erin Hight (Roger), all of Charleston, Jaime Michelle Cochran of Charleston; nephew, Charles Cochran (Wasana) of Melbourne, Florida; and a host of nieces and nephews whom he loved greatly.

Following graduation from Stonewall Jackson High School, class of 1968, Jamie traveled to the Jersey Shore to seek employment and was hired in a popular café through two consecutive seasons as a cook and server.  Five friends followed suit, and they all rented a huge, lovely beach house by pooling their money.

Eventually Jamie was employed by The State of West Virginia in the Alcohol Beverage Commission, followed by the position of night auditor for Charleston's Holiday Inn.  From here, he found employment at the Old Stamping Plant in South Charleston for 15 years, moving up to the rank of foreman and Union Representative.

Jamie's last positions prior to retirement were with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a highly trained TSA Agent first at the Dayton Airport and finally at the Houston Airport.

In his early thirties, Jamie coached basketball for a team of West Side super kids from various elementary schools.  They won many games.  Jamie taught his players to enter the court in style, with a distinctive jazzy strut.  Many years later, wherever he might be, he was greeted by "Coach" from one of the players.  He remembered them all.

Jamie's life was a mission of love, light, humor, and joyous outreach, which was a continuous thread throughout his journey.  His light was an inspiration to others, always reaching out and helping.  He had a treasure trove of friends from all walks of life and gave each friend a special nick name.  His laughter was contagious, his generosity limitless.

To Jamie, life was a fine art to be expressed with his entire being.  People (man, woman, child) were drawn to his magnetic personality, his sense of fun and joy, and his boundless good will.  He especially loved helping others in need, and he shared the same brand of love with everyone.  He cared for, interacted, and fed the unhoused, the troubled, and the physically disabled, making no distinction with their station in life.  To Jamie, the dollar sign was not his criterion for being his friend.

Jamie attended Beckley College, West Virginia State University, and Wright State University majoring in business and accounting.  Jamie's hobbies were gardening, collecting antique treasures at flea markets, photography, being handy around the house, and reading.  He read Dean Koontz because a golden retriever was in every novel.  He loved studying American and World History and was fascinated with Archeology.  In addition, Jamie carefully tended and fed a vast array of outdoor critters, ensuring that each species was fed correctly.  These sweet animals, also of course, were each endowed with a special nick name.  Many "knocked" on the sliding glass door that looked upon our big back yard for special treats.

Jamie's friends loved him for all his many gifts, including candor.  He adored telling stories of a life well lived on the West Side of Charleston down through the years.

A service to honor Jamie's memory will be 6:00 PM Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home, 1325 W. Washington Street, Charleston with visitation from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M.

Jamie asks that in case you anticipate donating to any worthy cause in the months and years ahead, to keep the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association foremost in your thoughts.

Special thanks to all of Jamie's caretakers at Thomas Memorial whose skills, compassion, and expertise were of the highest levels in their fields.  A special thank you to Stephanie, Robin, Brock, Jessica, and to Rhianna and Tasha who cared for Jamie compassionately and lovingly to bring comfort to him at his moments of greatest need to the very end.  A special note of thanks to Dr. Ashith Sheth, Jamie's PCP, who guarded Jamie's health and put up with his jokes for eleven years.

Goodbye to our Jamie.  Goodbye, Mr. West Side, until we meet again.

Condolences can be sent by visiting cpjfuneralhome.com.