Obituary of James Henry Luther

James Henry (Jim) Luther, 91, of Charlotte, NC passed away on March 5th, 2021 at home surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born on June 27, 1929 in Salisbury, NC. He was the son of Harris S. Luther, Sr. and Julia Betts Luther. Jim was a graduate of Central High School in Charlotte, NC, and attended the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina (now UNC Charlotte). He also graduated from the Carolina School of Banking (UNC Chapel Hill), the School of Banking of the South (Louisiana State University) and completed a course in Bank Automation at Purdue University.

Jim Luther began his banking career with the Federal Reserve Bank in Charlotte, NC, in 1948. In 1954 he joined American Trust Company in Charlotte (a predecessor of Bank of America). He retired in 1993 as Senior Vice President in charge of the Correspondent Banking Department and, in that capacity, developed many banking friends throughout North and South Carolina. He was a member of the Bank Administration Institute and was President of its Piedmont North Carolina Chapter in 1979-1980.

Jim had been active in the First United Methodist Church in Charlotte and had served as its Administrative Board Chairman and Chairman of the Council on Ministries. He was also a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.

Jim was very involved in high school sports, serving as Head Manager for football, basketball and the track teams at Central High School and was also Head Manager for the 1945 North Carolina Shrine Bowl team. He was an avid golfer and a former member of Cedarwood Country Club.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jean Edwina (Eddie) Luther; his son, James Michael Luther (Jan); his daughters, Dorothy Rochelle (Chellie) Phifer (Tony); Julia Edith Robinson (Craig); step-sons, Gregory Thomas Colegrove (Valerie) and Michael Todd Colegrove (Nikki).  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Francis M. Luther and Harris S. Luther, Jr., his sister, Rochelle (Chellie) Woodside and his grandson, Devin M. Luther. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Aubrey Luther Barnes (Jay), Jami Luther Baugh (Josh), David Luther, Dustin Phifer (Addie), Matthew Robinson, and Andrew Robinson and his great grandchildren, Benjamin Barnes, Alize Barnes, Sarina Barnes, Caleb Barnes, McKenna Baugh, Amelia Baugh and Blake Phifer.

Funeral Services will be private for his immediate family only.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC  28202 or Novant Health Hospice and Palliative Care, 324 N. McDowell St., Suite 200, Charlotte, NC  28204..