James Penn Jr., was born on April 12, 1951 in Hackensack, NJ to the late James Penn Sr. and Mendoza (nee Callis) Penn. On February 14, 2018, James passed peacefully from this life after a gradual decline in health. He was surrounded and supported by his loving family and friends during the last days of his life.

At an early age, James accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. As a teenager, he moved to Newtonville, NJ from Englewood, NJ and was educated in the Vineland School Systems. He met the love of his life Malvese (nee Henderson) Penn at the age of nineteen. He graduated from Vineland Senior High School in 1970. He was employed by Kontes Glass, later known as Gerresheimer for thirty-eight years.

In 1975, James and Malvese (Sandy) Penn were united in Holy Matrimony. To this union there was one child, James Walter Penn III (deceased). They resided in Pittsgrove Township, NJ for thirty-eight years, but later moved to South Hill Virginia in 2013. James was a very quiet and laid-back person. He was very generous, kind, and loving. You could always find Penn working on cars or fixing things. On Penn's free time, he would cut grass and work outside. He loved spending time with his family and friends. He always watched tennis with his wife, MSNBC, and Sunday night football (EAGLES).

He leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife Malvese Penn; sisters, Pauline Young of New Jersey, Betty Benson of Atlantic City, New Jersey; brothers, Walter Penn and William Cochran of South Hill, Virginia; three grandchildren, Jacel Malvese Penn, James Walter Spencer Penn IV, and Jyah James Penn; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

James was preceded in death by one son James Walter Penn III; and three sisters, Carol Penn, Cortella Martin, and Hazel Wadsworth.