Jim Court with his pooch, Trudi May
Asheville, NC
I am sad to announce that Jim passed away January 22, 2001.  We will miss a very special, loving being.  A description of his memorial service is below the picture.

Here is a description of his Memorial Service at Spirit Haven, NC, January 21, 2001:

Dearest Fellowship Family,

Jim had a beautiful send off. Many of his beloved friends were here to
celebrate his transition, including his doggie, Trudi May.

Mark Davidson integrated the suggestions of Sharon Solomon, Joshua,
myself, and our musician, Susan Thomas. He wrote beautiful prayers.
Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to share their remembrances
and blessings, and I read all of the emails that I had received. Many
eyes were moist.

I shall share the saga of Jim's passing chronologically, and then leave
the recollections for the end.

Wilmer Court made front page news in the Asheville Citizen Times on
Tuesday, Jan. 16th. "Candler man killed in wreck...Fog may be factor in
collision" the story was titled.

"Wilmer Court died at the scene of the 6 am wreck, according to state
trooper Troy Munday. Court was killed when he tried to pull from
Fairmont Rd. where it intersects with U.S. 19-23 about 3 mil from
Asheville, Mundy said.
...heavy fog reduced visibility.

Curtis Israel, 37 of Canton, was headed to work on U.S. 19-23 when his
1998 Dodge truck collided with Court's 1992 Volkswagen Jetta, according
to the trooper. Most of the impact from the collision was on the
Volkswagen's driver side.

Troopers aren't sure if Court was attempting to cross U.S. 19-23 or
trying to make a left turn. Court was not wearing a seatbelt......

"He (Israel) tried everything he could to avoid it", Mundy said. ***



There was info about the weather and how there were more wrecks that day
than usual. I saw a picture of Jim's car. It was a bullseye to the
driver's door. Not having his belt on threw him across to the other side
of the car. I can't help but feel that it was part of a plan, and I
intend to reach Mr. Israel and share my feelings with him about that,
and tell him that Jim had said repeatedly to several of us that he was
ready to go.

I went to the accident scene the day after. I scanned the area with my
inner radar. I didn't feel that Jim was stuck there, but I offered up
prayers. All that was left was a few bits of glass from the driver's
door window broke. But just seeing that helped his death become a
reality for me, and I was able to cry and release.

Jim's brother Eugene, and sister-in-law Carol came from Arizona, and
stayed at his newly renovated trailer. Skipper Etheridge stayed by the
phone to field calls. He owned the land that Jim had built on. They
shared phone, electricity, water, space, meals, jokes and more.

Eugene identified the body, and Carol wrote the obit. I helped a little
with the address of the Paul Solomon Foundation. It follows:

"Wilmer James Court, 66, of 837 Pisgah Highway, passed away Monday, Jan.
15, 2001.

Mr. Court was a native of Canfield, Ohio, and the son of the late Herman
A. and Eleanor Elton Court.

He is survived by a brother, Herman E. Court of Tempe, Ariz., and a
sister, Janet Nelson of Litchfield Park, Ariz.

A memorial service will be held a 4 p.m.. Sunday at Spirit Haven Lodge.
A pot luck dinner will follow. Spirit Haven Lodge is 6.8 mi. up Route
151, off Highway 19-23. Turn right on Treetops Dr. and look for signs.
Call 665-7773 for more information.

Flowers can be sent to the above location or donations may be made to
the Paul Solomon Foundation, 4576 Kingscup Court, Ellicott City, MD
21042.

Asheville Mortuary Services is in charge of arrangements.

***

Susan Thomas played classical violin pieces as people entered the Lodge.
There were candles and flowers in many places. There was a table set up
with a yellow and gold silk flower arrangement from the family, Jim's
ashes, a picture of him as a gorgeous hunk of a man in his wedding
attire of many years ago, his obituary, several candles, and his ashes
in a special brass tin.

She gave her sharings about Jim and his lovely way of preparing meals,
and laughing, and taking care of folks. Then she led us in a group
singing of "Amazing Grace".

Joshua welcomed everyone to Spirit Haven, and acknowledged our purpose
of remembering, blessing, and celebrating Jim.

Mark led a beautiful prayer that included his recollections and how 2 of
Jim's favorite TV shows were "Do you Want to be a millionaire" [he did],
and "Touched by an Angel". Mark shared that the Angel of Death would
have to be "God's most tender and understanding Angel, to be sent to us
at such a frightening juncture in our lives.."

He reminded that "Our relationship with Jim is not severed by his
death...Jim knew who he was, a living expression of God in a physical
vehicle that would one day no longer be of use to his soul, in which
case it would be left behind."

People were then invited to share there memories. To cut the ice, I
began, and then read the emailed ones.

My recollections of Jim are that he was a huge heart behind a kind of
protective shield that included loudness and crudeness at times. But
ever he was vigilant to help when he could. Over the years I saw a
pattern emerge. He would "adopt" families. He would get very close to
them, even living with them at times. The one common link was that there
would be an adolescent male in the picture, as if he was tending a wound
that perhaps he may have had at that age. He loved my kids, and called
Mary "Sugar Sugar", or Mary Dugan, and he could cheer her up when she
was crabby.

He prepared the most delicious food for the many gatherings here, and
was very proud to serve the people he loved in such a way, on his silver
chafing dishes. His dream was to help resurrect the intense good will
and faith that caused many people to give up ordinary lives to help
create a special place that would help change the world for the better.
He never lived a day without thinking about God and the divine plan. He
felt that his ministry was at this time more on the street, and he
served it well.

Joshua remembered how one day two of our goats were tethered, and began
jumping and bleating wildly. He and Jim could see that they had
uncovered a hornets nest. Jim hesitated about 1 second before he bolted
up the hill, getting stung several times, to rescue them.

He told another tale about a time when Joshua was a waiter at the
Christopher Inn in New Market. A homeless man knocked on the door, and
asked if there was any work. He didn't ask for a meal. Jim had him carry
trash to the dumpster, and clean up the area. The man always combed his
hair before approaching the door. When he was finished with his task,
Jim invited him in, and personally served him on crisp white linens with
goblets, and a fine meal.

There was a lull in the sharing so I read a few emailed stories. The
first is from Sharon Solomon:

Here's my piece about Jim. Thanks for collecting them.

Love,
Sharon

The last time I spoke with Jim Court, he was talking about gathering

together the people of the Fellowship Family who had come through the
years.
And today it appears he has succeeded, whether in person or via email,
to
bring together many of us who are his friends and want to honor him.
When
last Jim and I talked, we reminisced, as we always did, about what he
called
the Days of our Innocence, when so many dropped everything and moved to
western Virginia to follow our dream. Jim was one of us, despite his
bravado,
believing with Paul that together we could change the world!

Jim opened his restaurant, which we soon discovered was a Mystery School
that
sat side by side with the Carmel Mystery School. So many went out from
the
embraces of Hearthfire Lodge back into the world of Jim's School, where
most
everyone, at one time or another, had their buttons pushed to reveal
their
most unfavorite emotion. I never worked at the restaurant itself. I
cleaned
Jim's house, and learned how to fold sheets and towels, how to vacuum
even
under the rug, and to notice the little specks of dirt that no one but
Jim
could see. And I bristled and complained, but he did make his impression
on
me no less potent than on my fellow students.

Jim also nurtured us. When I was in Asheville, Jim took me to the
fanciest
hotel in town, where he knew Dr. Someone and Mrs. So-and-So, who runs
the
little shop down the street, and others, almost like Jim's own
restaurant.
He was a people person, especially if you didn't work for him, or after
he
yelled at you. Then he'd feed you, bring you gifts, and be there when
you
needed a friend. He earned himself the designation Mother Superior, less

maybe for the Mother and more for the Superior, for wherever he went,
Jim was
in charge. He was effective at everything he did, and had little
tolerance
for those of us who were all thumbs, which inevitably, of course, most
were
when we tried working with Jim, especially in those early days.

Except Paul, of course. When Jim and Paul got together they did
spectacular
things, but seemed often more like two little kids, cooking elaborate
meals -
one year they put Fellowship Logo on the Thanksgiving Day turkey a
gla-zee;
another a Christmas Tree of pastry puffs, filled individually with
custards
and creams and glued together with edible dyes of red and green. Then
Paul
and Jim, would tell their off color jokes, and don't ask about the year
Jim
brought the panty hose! With Jim it was extravagant, elaborate,
sometimes
loud, fast and as soon as you could stop long enough to think about it,
always fun. Yet despite all, when last we talked, we were still bold or
naive
or crazy enough to believe and make plans to change the world!

If what I've come to believe about the afterlife is true, I'm sure Paul
met
Jim at the Heavenly Gate and escorted him through. Maybe then they
talked
just long enough to catch each other up. Can't quite think of Jim (or
Paul
for that matter) up there singing in a choir of angels. More likely, Jim
went
off to organize the Angelic Host and to help prepare a place for the
time
when each of us, his friends, will enter. Jim I love you and I'll miss
you.

Sharon Solomon

****


Emi Takahashi from Japan recalled,

"He had been so sweet and kind. He visited Paul from time to time and
talked with Paul and his family. Sometimes he cooked nice meals for us.
I didn't think of him since I returned to Japan, but when I received the
news that he has gone from his body, suddenly many memories about him
come up to my mind. I also remember that he cooked sweet hot cakes as
breakfast for Japanese group when about twenty Japanese visited and
stayed in hotel at Virginia Beach to study ILC.

Thank you Jim, we will meet you someday there again.

***

Sharon Solomon also sent a Japanese blessing for Jim from the Japanese
ILC group.

***

Soozi Holbeche, from France, wrote Jim a personal letter with a preface
that I think is wonderfully significant.:

I lit lots of candles throughout the house. I felt Jim's presence very
strongly for an hour or so. Finally going to bed I blew the candles
out-reluctantly-but I'm here alone in an old farmhouse and feared fire.
However, one candle refused to go out and continued still alight now 3
days later-really, amazing. It is holding the light for Him. I will be
there in spirit Sunday.

My very dearest Jim,

I am devastated that our paths will no longer cross on this plane--that
we will no longer exchange news, views and friendship from one side of
the world to the other.

For me a friend is someone with whom I have a bond of acceptance, trust,
understanding and humour. A person I could go to at any hour of the day,
or night to ask for help, advice, sanctuary or money. This friend may be
unable to give me the thing as I seek, but will be 100% there for me no
matter what my predicament. Will share a hug, cup of tea listen,
empathetically and understand without criticism, judgment or "I told
you".

I am blessed to have had you, Jim as such a friend. I want you to know
that you are greatly loved and will be deeply missed by both Desmon and
myself.

I will never forget your generosity and kindness during my time in New
Market with Paul (who loved you like a brother) and he Hearthfire
community. Your brunches, munches, barbecues and emotional support
helped to keep the community boat afloat in more ways than one.

To share a house with you and Chris and Fritz, the joy, the fun, the
hard work, the crises and adventures, the crazy times, the spiritual ups
and downs, ebb and flow and above all the laughter we shared continue to
give me unforgettable memory of some of the best years of my life.

Thank you, Bless you. My love goes with you as part of my soul family.
La Bella!

***

Paul Ricioppo from VA Beach said over the phone, "Jim had a big heart.
He was a very loving person underneath. Always there when I needed him.
He took me and others under his wing. His love was forever.

He had a great work ethic. He was a very hard working person and I
learned from him about the value of hard work. He was a perfectionist
and appreciated quality and how to value art and the beauty of life. He
had old world values.

He was himself.

***

Griet Blaye of Belgium was celebrating her 50th birthday the day Jim
died. She writes:
"I played "Things with wings" for him on my piano yesterday. If indeed
he had to go to the other spheres on my birthday, I will forever
remember how he treated me to my birthday when we lived in New Market,
VA in the fall and winter of 79-80. We went to Harrisonburg to Spanky's
and I thought it was so sweet of him to do that for me. I always found
him just as sweet after that and I always will. He lived with us four 4
months in Portsmouth once, and he kind of became part of our family. I
hope he can reminisce with Willem. [her deceased elder son]

***


And Griet's younger son, Thomas, recalled this:

I guess Jim first introduced me to how much fun and how good a real
chef's cooking can be...I can remember him teaching me how to make
butter sauce for broccoli and eating snails for the first time at his
restaurant out there in the muddy mountains.

He was a freak of nature. He died a tragic death. Yet I don't fear he'll
ge lonely, as I remember how much he used to talk to himself. So he
won't get bored either on his way up to heaven. And when he gets there:
I bet no one could have a better time in a place with young naked boys
with wings flying around than old Jim Court...

So I guess he's gone up to see Fritz, his one true love (his dog from
long ago). And if he doesn't meet God, at least he'll have his dog
again. He'll get to see Paul Solomon, and will probably end up paying
Willen rent money again for the sublet of a cloud or so...

Thomie

***

Martha McClelland of VA Beach sent this memory: I loved his generous
spirit and kind heart. He was a light.

***

Ruth Pippenger of Alexandria, VA said,

"It is heartwarming to be involved from a distance and to remember times
with Jim and his wonderful hospitality."

***

Mary Elizabeth Marlow said

I have always thought that when it is all said and done, the only thing
that really matters is how much we love. Jim Court's life was certainly
a testimony to that principle. For love he did, continually and
consistently. A more generous, kind, and openhearted person can not be
found.

Thank you Jim for enriching my life. Love and blessings,
Mary Elizabeth Marlow

***

Rob Pennington of Houston, TX wrote:

My gratefulness for his gifts and my prayers for him reaping the
blessings he gave are present.

Jim is certainly one who expressed unconditional love to so many of us
for such a long period of time. He deserves our highest appreciation and
remembrance.

He understood the challenges we faced in leaving behind "normal " lives
to strike out together to build a new way of relating to each other and
to God. He supported and embodied the courage it takes to act on one's
convictions. His friendship and humor were always a stable constant when
so much was changing. As people came and went, Jim could always be
counted on to be there with a joke, a hug, a memory, a good "Paul
story", tremendous food with "elegant presentation" and a sincere
interest in each individual. If FIL had a realm of saints Jim would be
included."

***

Others got up to share.

Brian Berry flew up from Braedonton, FLA. to remember and honor Jim.

He believed that ILC guides who were sent out under wartime conditions
like lambs to wolves, would eventually get to go to Akron, Ohio and stay
with Jim before he moved to Carmel. Jim would serve them a lavish buffet
of breakfast for 40 for just one!

He remembered the unusual juxtaposition of beautiful Tiffany glass and
Waterford Crystal on the shelves as a backdrop for Jim in a canary
yellow polyester suit. He remembered how Jim brought leftovers to his
family who was financially struggling, and needed the food; that he
always remembered the kids, and watched out for those in need.

***
Leslie Ray who lives here saw Jim the day before he died. She was paying
for gas when she heard him bark, "Get over here, you!" He greeted her
with a big bear hug, as usual, and told her about how he thought he had
a buyer for his trailer. She loved him dearly.

****

Little Kenny, loved Jim like a grandfather. Jim would take him out and
buy him the best that he could. Little Kenny would take the double
shifts after Jim's surgeries, when he needed 24 hour care. He helped him
move, and do odd jobs. They were truly pals. He showed us a picture of
Trudy May with a little sweater on, that she wore when she insisted on
going out with them one night.

****
Kenny's dad told of an evening when he brought over his brother-in-law
who had an "uneducated palate" as Jim would say. He wouldn't eat Jim's
cooking. Jim said, so don't eat then. However, later in the year when
the man was displaced, Jim said, "Well he can stay here. Maybe he can
eat a hot dog."

***


Susan then sang a song about the Jim who was lovable and loud, sharing
and demanding, and always will be remembered for his big heart.

We then had a communion service with champagne and shrimp hors
d'oeuvres. We thought he'd like it that way.

Mark again lead a prayer inviting anyone who had any unforgiveness left
in his heart towards Jim, or any thing at all that needed releasing to
do so in a moment of silence.

I then read a prayer asking that his transition be sweet and filled with
tenderness and love, and that the emptiness in our hearts be filled with
golden love..

Joshua lead a group visualization seeing him flooded with golden light,
and being lifted into gentle arms which will keep him in safe keeping.
We spoke of our love.

***

Most of the crowd braved the sub freezing temperatures to plant a
memorial red Japanese maple tree near a creek on our land. We blessed
his ashes and scattered many of them into the roots of the baby tree. We
planted bulbs that he had dug up from his old trailer , intending to
plant at his new home.

***

We then returned to Spirit Haven Lodge and feasted, celebrating the very
way he expressed his love to others on this planet.

This man is loved, and will be remembered always.


May his life and death inspire you to not put off another day your
heart's true desire and your soul's true path.

Blessings to all of you,
Annaleah