James E. Du Bose Sr.
Jan. 31, 1929 – Oct. 29, 2015

Mr. James E. Du Bose Sr., 86, resident Chocowinity, went on to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 29, 2015. Father of Sanford Du Bose.

Mr. Du Bose was born in Newark, N.J. on January 31, 1929. He was the son of the late
Bustie Du Bose and Kathleen Du Bose, both of Newark. Mr. Du Bose attended Newark Public Schools, graduated from Barringer High School and later successfully completed a N.J. State Police Special Tactics training program in Sea Girt, N.J., while having acquired a Brown Belt in Karate.

Mr. Du Bose served 28 years in the Police Department in the City of Newark, New Jersey, started in patrol and was promoted to the Detective Division where he worked in several squads. He was subsequently transferred to the Intelligence Unit, where he was promoted by the Police Director. In addition to working in undercover investigations, Mr. Du Bose was responsible for the security of visiting dignitaries, such as the late Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Jesse Jackson, Muhammad Ali, the Dalai Lama, President Carter, President Ford and much more. He was also awarded dozens of awards and commendations during his service. Mr. Du Bose, as well as other black police officers in a group he co-founded, were Parade Marshals in the Historic March on Washington in 1963.

After retiring from the Police Dept., he became Director of Security for the New Community Corporation. After serving 7 years he was appointed Deputy Director of the Essex County, N.J. Narcotics Bureau, the largest in the state. Also, he was appointed co-chairman of the State of New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission by Governor Jim Florio for an unprecedented 10 years and was presented over 100 community and professional awards including the first “Keeping the Dream Alive Award.” With the aid of Congressman Peter R. Rodino Jr. (CD-10th Dist.), he petitioned the French Government to restore the Croix de Gurre Medal, France’s highest military honor to a veteran of World War I, William Ogden Layton of Newark, when the medal was stolen from him upon returning from France. Layton was a member of the famed 369th Infantry Regiment.

For his efforts, he was awarded a plaque and made an honorary member of the New Jersey District of the 369th Veterans Association. Also, Mr. Du Bose was a Grand Marshal in the Black Heritage Parade of the City of Newark in 1985.

In 2014, Du Bose was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Newark Police Department for saving a family of five and their puppy from a burning apartment building in 1963.

He had been a member of the Newark P.B.A., the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Organization of Black Police Officers (N.O.B.L.E.), and he co-founded the Bronze Shields, a benevolent organization of black police officers in the city of Newark and the Sons and Daughters of St. Christopher.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Thursday, November 5, 2015 at Metropolitan AME Zion Church, 102 West Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Washington, NC. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery, Washington, NC.

Visitation will be 1:00pm – 5:00pm Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at L.R. Randolph Memorial Chapel. The family will receive friends at the home of his son, Mr. Sanford Du Bose, 508 Telfair Rd., Washington, at other times.

Arrangements are by Leon Randolph Funeral Home, 208 West Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Washington.