James Harold Campbell, 78, passed away December 3, 2025. James was the son of William Samuel Campbell and Cora Lyttle Campbell, born to them on December 12, 1946, at home, in Blake Star Coal Camp, Alva, Kentucky.
James was a kind man, much beloved by all who knew him. He was a dedicated member of Northside Baptist Church. James loved and cared deeply about his family, friends, and church community. James attended Hall High in Harlan County before moving with his family to Barbourville in 1963 where he attended and graduated from Barbourville High School. After high school James married Sylvia Peigon and they lived and worked in both Virginia and North Carolina, eventually returning to Barbourville. James worked as a custodian for Union College and a custodian and resource officer for Lay Elementary. While working at Lay Elementary, James became a mentor and coach to the boys’ basketball team following the players through their high school basketball careers at Knox Central High School. James became an assistant manager for the Knox Central High School basketball team. He and the players became like family with them taking care of him, always ensuring he could get to and from the away games.
Left behind to mourn James’ passing are sisters’ Betty Jewell Brantley, Carolyn Ramsey (Larry), Linda Kay Moffett, great niece Dani Patterson, great nephew's Ryan Chase Patterson, Alex Hubbard, Aden Hubbard, and Ashton Hubbard as well as a host of dear nieces, nephews and friends. James was preceded in death by his parents, William and Cora Campbell, his wife Sylvia Peigon, brothers’ Clarence Campbell and his wife Betty Jo Campbell and Donald Campbell and his wife Barbara Jean Campbell, sister Geneva Welch and her husband Gary Welch, and brother-in-law Ralph Moffett.
The Campbell family will receive friends at Hopper Funeral Home on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour of 1:00 PM. Reverend Russell Jones will officiate assisted by Reverend Samuel Lawson. Musical tributes to be performed by Faith Tabernacle Church Choir. Interment will follow the funeral service in the Pine Hill Cemetery Corbin, Kentucky. Casket Bearers are members of the Knox Central Basketball Team. Honorary Casket Bearers are Dr. Paul Pedersen, and compassionate doctors and nurses from Barbourville Health and Rehabilitation and University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.
The Hopper family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, and the staff of Hopper Funeral Home, Mrs. Lorena Blankenship, Mr. Reid Brewer, Mr. Robin Reese, Ms. Quinlynn Chrisco, Mr. Steven Walker, Mr. Darren West, Ms. Nicole Collins, and Mrs. Brenda Johnson, express heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of James Harold Campbell.
