Obituary of James Gatewood

Winston-Salem-James Russell Gatewood, 52, was unexpectedly but peacefully ushered into the arms of Jesus on December 10, 2012. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held 11:30AM Friday December 14, 2012 at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home Chapel in Kernersville. Interment will follow in Woodland Cemetery. "Jim was born in Winston-Salem to Pauline Gatewood and the late John Gatewood. From a very early age Jim showed a precociousness that soon blossomed into recognized genius in music, writing, mathematics, and other fields during his school years. He went on to win academic awards, wowed and entertained friends and family with his prowess on the piano, earned a nearly perfect score on the math section of the SAT, and graduated at the top of his class from Amelia County High School in Virginia. He studied as a freshman in the electrical-engineering program at Duke University and had started his second year there when his health forced him to withdraw. His condition worsened from that point and slowly robbed him of the ability to express the giftedness that remained locked up inside him, and Jim spent the last three decades or more of his life in residential extended-care facilities. Caretakers who invested the time to become more than superficially acquainted with him discovered a winsome smile, a still-brilliant mind, and an appealingly child-like spirit with which they soon fell in love. The Great Physician answered his family's and friends' many prayers for healing by granting Jim something far better than what they, or he, might have chosen: He now stands -- no, he runs, leaps, and dances! -- in the glorious presence of his Savior, with a restored and perfected mind, body, and spirit. If, in the worship, fellowship, and beauty of Heaven, Jim still ever questions why his earthly life seems to have turned out 'wasted' by so many worldly standards, he now has all of eternity to hear the answers from God Himself." In addition to his father, he also was preceded in death by a brother John Campbell Gatewood. Survivors include his mother Pauline Campbell Gatewood of Winston-Salem; sister Rachel Cooley and Brian of Mooresville; brother Eric Thomas Gatewood of Winston-Salem; nieces Hannah and Sarah Grace; and nephews Jonathan and Nathan; aunts Irma Goldberg of Winston-Salem and Mildred Maxey and Margaret Davis, both of Amelia, Virginia; and numerous cousins. The family will visit with friends from 10:00AM until time for the service on Friday at the funeral home. Friends and family may sign and view the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International. Service Information