Rev. James H. Cantrell

With hearts full of love and admiration, we celebrate the wonderful life of Rev. James H. Cantrell, a devoted husband, loving father, dedicated pastor, and dynamic preacher. He departed this earthly realm peacefully in his sleep on February 24, 2025.

He was born in Nashville, Tennessee. However, after his mother passed away when he was six years old, he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was raised by his aunt and grandmother. He attended Hamilton County Public Schools and graduated from Howard High School in 1965.

He chose to attend Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, to pursue an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. During his freshman year, he had a life-changing experience when he encountered Carol Lea Bering, a music major from Houston, Texas. They dated until graduation, after which they joined in Holy Matrimony a month later. They were married for 55-plus years and produced two wonderful children, Angela and Vincent.

He was licensed to the Christian ministry in April 1969 and ordained in December 1970. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in 1972. He started as an understudy at a local church in Rochester, New York. He became a youth pastor at a church in Chicago, Illinois. He got his first official call as pastor at Manor Community Church in Chicago, Illinois. His next call was to First Congregational Church in Savannah, Georgia, followed by Second African Baptist Church in Savannah. His final call as pastor was to Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served there faithfully for 25 years and retired in April 2022.

He was an avid sports fan and could often be seen or heard cheering on the Dodgers, Ravens, or 76ers. He loved to talk to people and never met a stranger. He enjoyed a good meal and had a mean sweet tooth—especially for sweet potato pie.

He was a member of various organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Progressive National Baptist Convention, Incorporated; and Cincinnati Baptist Minister’s Conference, to name a few.

He is survived by his wife, Carol L. Bering Cantrell; a daughter, Angela Michelle Cantrell; a son, Vincent James Cantrell (Yashika); and a grandson, Louis James Cantrell, along with a host of cousins in Chattanooga, TN, and Buffalo, NY.

We thank God for the life of our husband, father, and pastor James Cantrell. Although he is no longer with us on this side of heaven, we rejoice in knowing that we will see him again one day. We are forever grateful for the time we shared and for the legacy he left behind.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, please make donations in the form of a tribute gift to: Dillard University @ https://www.dillard.edu/give