James Ewart Shakespeare

James Ewart Shakespeare, fondly called Jim, left this mortal coil at 11:11pm on May 11, 2024. He was 88 years old, and nearly 64 of those years were spent with his beloved wife, Mary Mangrum Shakespeare, who loved and cared for him throughout his battle with Parkinson’s disease. In addition to Mary, he is survived by his son, James Christopher Shakespeare, his daughter, Susan Shakespeare Gill (Jimmy), five grandchildren, James Ian Gill, Kathryn Elizabeth Gill, Mary Sophia Shakespeare, Jocelyn Colette Shakespeare, and Willa Mae Shakespeare and nephew William Douglas Shakespeare (Diana).

Jim was born January 8, 1936, to William Ewart Gladstone Shakespeare and Betty Adams Shakespeare, on Vachon Island in the Puget Sound. He had one older brother, William Lionel Shakespeare, and all of his family members preceded him in passing.

As a youngster Jim and his family moved to Hollywood, Florida. Jim was one of those blessed souls who found his passion and calling at the age of nine when he discovered the sport of tennis. Many of his lifelong friendships began at those sunny courts in Florida. He was on the varsity team for four years at South Broward High School, and received a full scholarship to play for Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC.

At PC Jim was not only a tennis star, but developed his academic side as well with a BA in English. He went on to earn his Master’s degree at Duke University as a Woodrow Wilson scholar. He taught at George School in Newtown, PA for four years, during which time both of Jim and Mary’s children were born.

The family moved to Clinton, SC in 1965, and Jim returned to Presbyterian College as an English professor and tennis coach. In nearly a decade at PC, his tennis teams won a remarkable 82% of their matches, including big wins against Division I giants like the University of Miami and Penn State. Jim was a stellar recruiter, bringing in talented players from the US, South America, and Czechoslovakia. Presbyterian had six NAIA All-Americans, and the team had five top three finishes in national championships. Jim was named the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1974, and the college was widely recognized as a tennis powerhouse.

During the PC years, Jim was the Director of Tennis at the prestigious Buck Hill Falls resort in the Pocono mountains. He and his family, often accompanied by several of his tennis players, spent summers in this beautiful resort area. Jim would often bring in top tennis players for weekend exhibitions, and he developed a thriving tennis program that was a highlight of the Buck Hill experience.

Jim and Mary moved the family to Richmond, Virginia in 1978, which has been home to them since. Jim had several tennis jobs in Richmond, and continued to teach until the age of 80 when injuries forced him to retire. Jim and Mary developed a huge social network in Richmond. They were members of West End Assembly of God church, and Jim was in a men’s Bible study for over thirty years. He created a “Beat the Blahs” golf trip to Myrtle Beach in January that was a staple on the calendar for many families for over twenty years. He also had a weekly tennis date with the pastors that produced some legendary stories!

Jim was known and loved by many for his intellectual curiosity, his steadfast devotion to Mary, their kids, and his friends, his unwavering faith, his ability to connect with people instantly, and especially for his sense of humor. He loved golf, reading, birdwatching, fine beers, and most of all, peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. He was an avid environmentalist and loved sharing his wonder at the awesome complexity of nature, especially at the beach or in the mountains. He and Mary always opened their home to those in need, and truly exemplified the Christian values of love, devotion, and service to others.

In April of 2022, Jim was honored by many of his former players with a ceremony at Presbyterian College. It was a beautiful celebration filled with friendly faces, many of whom had not been seen in decades, and it truly showed the massive positive impact Jim had on so many young men who never forgot his influence, love, and guidance for them. “Coach” will be sorely missed by many.

Jim was cremated, and a memorial service is scheduled for July 27, 2024, at 2pm at West End Assembly of God Church in Richmond. A Celebration of Life Open House will follow at the Regency Woods Clubhouse from 4-7pm.