James H. Dillingham Jr. NEWPORT NEWS

On July 18, 2003, at approximately 10:10 p.m. James H. Dillingham Jr., was relieved of his sword and shield and was called home to be with our heavenly father.

He was a loving and wonderful person who will be greatly missed. James H. Dillingham Jr., son of the late James H. Dillingham Sr. and Mary V. Dillingham Harold, was born in Anniston, Ala., May 2, 1945. He was raised by his stepmother, the late Frances Dillingham.

In early 1963 James H. Dillingham Jr. joined the United States Air Force and later that year he married the love of his life Martha M. Hilton. God blessed them with four beautiful children. While in the Air Force, he was a highly decorated senior NCO that was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/16 OLC, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/5 OLC, and the Vietnam Service Medal, and many other medals during his 20-year service.

Upon moving to Long Island, N.Y., he joined Faith Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastors R. K. Long and B. Adams. He became a Deacon and was later appointed as Evangelist. He was also a Bible Study teacher. When he moved to Virginia, he continued his service to the Lord by becoming a member of Holy Tabernacle Church of Deliverance where he joined the Ministerial staff and was later appointed an Elder.

After retiring from the USAF, James continued to perform services for the United States Government and the U.S. Intelligence community. He helped to design and implement a number of programs and platforms for the Department of Defense as a Senior Engineer for several Defense contractors. Upon his second retirement, James became the CEO and President of Computer Security Intelligence Group, Inc. in Newport News, Va., along with his son. While in that capacity, James served as a Dept. of Criminal Justice Compliance Agent for CSIG, Inc., Honorary Co-Chairman on the Business Advisory Council for the NRCC, a member of the International Food Bank organization and a sworn Special Police officer in the cities of Hampton, Newport News, York County and Virginia Beach, Va.

James leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Martha M. Dillingham; daughter, Joyce (Darryl) of Long Island, N.Y.; daughter, Karen (& Clovis) of Houston, Texas; son, James III (Mia) of Newport News, Va., and youngest daughter, Vinita Jeanette of Long Island, N.Y. He also leaves eight grandchildren, Anthony, John Micheal, Lorenzo Jr., K-Shawn, Jazmine, Angelique, James Christopher, and Ashlee; two brothers, Edgar and Gerald; mother, Mary V. Dillingham-Harold; father and mother-in-law, Bishop Lewis and Mother Sarah Hilton; sister in-laws Bertha (Larry), Bishop Bobby Hilton (Valda), Chris (Sherletta), Joyce, Angela; and a host of other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Visitation services will be Tuesday, July 22, from 7 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be on Wednesday July 23, at 11 a.m. All services will be held at Holy Tabernacle Church of Deliverance, 14742 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Va. Flowers may be sent to Nicholson-Cummings Funeral Home, 4304 Victoria Blvd., Hampton, VA 23669.

James H. Dillingham Jr. was a member of the United States Air Force and will be laid to rest in Dayton National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio, on Friday, July 25.

Published in the Daily Press from 7/20/2003 - 7/22/2003.

Notice of death was provided by Darr King to Airlee Owens, who is the webmaster for the Silent Warriors web site. One correction was made in the obituary. "Accomodation Medal" was changed to "Commendation Medal." Paragraphs were added because there were none in the newspaper account.