James "Tootise" McKenzie was born August 17, 1933 in Monroe North Carolina.  He Departed this life on August 08, 2018.  Funeral Service will be Monday August 13, 2018, Visitation at 11:30am, Service at 12:00 at Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church, 3435 Nevin Road, Charlotte, NC  28269.

James graduated from Winchester High School in 1951 and Johnson C Smith University 1955.  He was a member of the United States Air Force.  He started his career at Eastern Airlines, becoming one of the first African Americans hired and later retired from Charlotte Mecklenburg School Systems.