James 'Jimmy' Helms Massey

SHERILLS FORD, N.C. - James "Jimmy" Helms Massey returns to Dover, Del. to spend eternity in Delaware soil. He passed away in Sherrils Ford on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007.

He left Dover on April 11, 1951, to join the U.S. Navy for a four year enlistment.

Jimmy's mother lived in Cheswold and his grandmother Massey, with who he lived, lived on Division Street in Dover.

He applied for his first job when he was in the fourth grade at Satterfield's Market on the corner of Division and Governors Avenue.

Jimmy stayed on the job and graduated from Dover High in 1950.

When he enlisted, the Navy was undergoing a major system change in keeping spare parts for its electronic equipment.

Jimmy, along with a group of new sailors, was selected to attend Naval schools to learn the new system.

He eventually was assigned to the USS Markab AD21, a destroyer tender servicing the Atlantic Destroyer Fleet, and it was anchored in Narraganset Bay off from Newport, R.I.

With his honorable discharge in hand, Jimmy headed west to Minnesota.

He graduated from the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis.

His first interview for employment was with Royal Insurance.

Jimmy immediately accepted employment with Royal and began his career in Baltimore.

His Royal career of 32 years took him from Baltimore to Chicago, New York and Charlotte.

At the time of his retirement, Jimmy was the leader of the Royal's premium audit department.

Local services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover.

Friends may call two hours prior.

Burial will follow in the family plot in Lakeside Cemetery.

Jim's wife Marilyn looks forward to meeting Jim's classmates and friends from his Dover days.