James Waverly Strayhand, Jr. was born on May 11, 1937 and passed away on December 31, 2015 on the 48th anniversary of his sobriety. He was the firstborn to James Waverly and Sirlena Wells Strayhand, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by sister, Mattie Strayhand.   He is survived by wife, Norma Jean; step-children whom he loved as his own, Ronald (Martha) Hill of Wooster, OH,  Eric (Chandra) Pannell, LaTanya Lee (deceased),  Debra Bufford (deceased), Karen (Richard) Smith, Valorie (Calvin, deceased) Austin, Michael (Tomicca) Hill, all of Akron, OH; sisters, Patricia (Jasper) Fullard of Kansas City, MO, Jennie (Willard) Orr, of Akron, OH, Glenda (Fredric) McGregor of Hartsell, AL, Annie Hudson of Charlotte, NC, Sirlena (Clarence) Gooden of Bowie, MD; goddaughter, Shellaree Twitty of White Plains, MD;  32 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; special family, Wanda and Rod Elledge and their two children Cydni and Chelsea and Ann Wells of Detroit, MI, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2015 at 12 noon at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 442 Bell Street Akron, Ohio 44307. Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of service Minister Bryant Hill, officiating and Pastor Jeffrey A. Dennis, eulogizing. Interment at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to 776 Kirkwall Drive, Copley, Ohio 44321