James D. Britton (Jimmy) was born in the Bronx, New York to Stephen McCoy Britton and Ethel Mae Holloway Britton on May 30, 1933. He was the last of their six children. His parents owned rental property and the Britton moving business. Jimmy learned work ethics very early in life and worked in both businesses from his youth. He graduated from Morris High School as third in his class after being out of school for nearly a whole school year due to pneumonia. At the age of 17 he and his best friend, the late Donald Mills received Bible studies and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church. He later attended Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama with the hopes of entering the gospel ministry. Instead, obstacles thwarted that dream and he returned home and worked in his family's businesses. Jimmy also worked at the Brooklyn Navy Shipyard with his future father-in-law, John B. Davis, Sr. After sometime, the Britton Mover's relocated Mr. Davis and his family to another dwelling. Jimmy met his beautiful daughter, Eleanor and the rest is history. They married in 1957 and to this union were born eight children, Lauris, Glenda, Talitha, Michael, Quintessa, Katrina, Tawanna and Leilani. The love of having a family and raising children was a joy that he and Eleanor shared. He supported his family in the trucking business, being the owner operator of Eleanor Trucking Company for over 30 years. Jimmy was also a big proponent of Christian education, having financed all eight of his children through Seventh-day Adventist schools. He believed that being fitted for heaven was even more important than preparing for an earthly vocation. Jimmy was often heard singing, "Lord in the morning" and other hymns early in the morning and had family worship with his wife and children regularly. He directed his family in singing in church, nursing homes and at the bedside of sick church members. His little flock was affectionately tagged, "The Brittonettes". His love for the Lord spilled over in his devotion to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, giving Bible studies in his youth and later serving as an elder at Newburgh Tabernacle S.D.A. Church in Newburgh, NY for 40 years. During that time, he served as Personal Ministries and Religious Liberty Leader, performed door to door evangelism with the Bible and religious literature. He gave generously and quietly to the church's ministries, including the gifts of a piano and organ for the church. He served as President of the Hudson Valley Layman's Federation for several years and gave his support to all of the Hudson Valley churches in soul winning ministries. He also worked with Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as an ally on various committees to bring the Third Angel's Message to New York and its surrounding areas. He loved speaking at his family church, Divine Light in the Bronx. He also loved site-seeing and traveling, often bringing his wife and children to Natural Bridge Virginia, Mammoth Cave, The Bronx Zoo, Hayden Planetarium, Museum of Natural History, Empire State Building and much more. Adventure added zest to his life. He went skiing for the first time after retirement with his oldest daughter and her family. He Parasailed with his oldest and youngest daughters at the age of 73, flew to Alaska to join his 5th child and her family during her military activation to Fort Wainwright at age 75, took a road trip to California and flew over the Grand Canyon at age 80 on his way to celebrate his beloved friend's, Elder and Mrs. George Sampson's 75th wedding anniversary, and flew to California at the age of 86 for Elder Sampson's 95th birthday! His ability to navigate was the envy of our modern GPS system. Jimmy knew the way and could give directions with greater accuracy than GPS! One thing that needed no navigation was Jimmy's ability to spot out a Carvel Ice Cream shop and enjoy vanilla ice cream. He was also king of "Dad Jokes," extremely corny but sweet humor, always stating the obvious with a funny twist! His secret identity was "Popeye", he was small, but mighty…carrying pianos and refrigerators on his back! Jimmy loved people, gatherings, and opened his heart to include many friends of his children and his church family as his own children. He even got an 800 number with AT&T so they could call anytime at his expense! He is loved and will be missed by many people. He is preceded in death by both his parents, Eleanor, his wife of 40 years and all his siblings and their spouses, Marion Maddox (Levon), Gertie Mae Spaulding (Aaron), Dorothy Cole (Andrew), Stephen "Buddy" Britton (Bettie Ann) and Ethel McCree (Leon). He leaves a host of family to prepare for the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, his children, Lauris Nicholson (Ted), Glenda Ward (Karl), Talitha Mills (Adan), Michael Britton, Quintessa Britton-Williams (Alfred), Katrina Britton, Tawanna Britton, Leilani Scott (Sokoni), 19 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren with one more on the way and a host of nieces and nephews. The theme of his sermons was always, "Maranatha," the Lord is Coming! "…He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." Isaiah 57:1, 2 NKJV "...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on… that they may rest from their labors and their works follow them. " Revelation 14:13