Obituary
James R. Crisp, Sr. - Chapel Hill, NC

A man of great talent and high spirits, James Ray Crisp, Sr., died on March 2, 2025. Born in Biltmore, NC, to Grover (Cleve) Crisp and Martha Slack Crisp, he grew up in nearby Candler, along with his sister Lucille Auman (Howard), and brothers G.C. (Maxine), J.B., William (Harriet), and David (Ann), all predeceased. Instilled with a work ethic by his father and a love of music by his mother, Jim lived life joyfully, with great music, humor, love, and pranks. He frequently warned people, “Stay away from natural causes, they’ll kill you!” And so they did, at age 97.

A graduate of Candler High School, Jim attended Mars Hill College for a year, majoring in fun. He joined the army and was deployed to the Korean War. Afterwards, he returned to Mars Hill and met his first wife, Gladess Hudspeth Crisp. Pursuing his passion for music, he studied classical music at the Oberlin Observatory. His army reserve unit was activated, so back he went to Korea. During both his tours of duty, he played piano for both officers’ and enlisted men’s clubs. In Korea, he formed a combo, Three Dots and a Dash, he was Dash.

After Korea, Jim and Gladess returned to North Carolina and he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and became a true Carolina Blue UNC fan. Although music was his first love, he had a young family to support, and began his career in business, first at Retail Credit, then at Nationwide Insurance. He served as an agent for 37 years, earning Nationwide’s top award, President’s Club, multiple times.

Jim was the consummate entertainer - he loved jazz and he loved making people laugh. As a musician friend said, “Everybody loved to play with
Jim.” Blessed with perfect pitch, he could play any song by ear, but he only really wanted to play jazz. He formed his own big bands and combos over the years, generously allowing other musicians to sit in with his group when they were in the audience. His talent would astound famed professional musicians when he sat in with them at various venues and festivals.

Never meeting a stranger or at a loss for words, Jim spread jokes, laughter, and happiness everywhere he went. For over 50 years, mornings were spent at Sutton’s Drug Store in downtown Chapel Hill, enjoying his coffee, telling jokes, poking fun, discussing news and UNC with the Sutton’s regulars and staff, who were all his friends.

In 1983, Jim married Elizabeth Chastain. They enjoyed spending time at Wrightsville Beach and traveled the world, but home was always Chapel Hill. They gave each other the great gift of loving one another and each other’s family as their own. Preceded in death by son James Ray Crisp, Jr. and daughter Evelyn Elise Crisp, Jim is survived by son Philip Aaron Crisp (Karen) of Peoria, AZ. He was a proud grandfather to James III (Jimmy) Crisp (Leilani), Brittany Powell (Michael), and Paula Crisp; great grandfather to Virginia, James IV, Katie, Kaia, Charlize, Keira, and Sophia, great greats Ryan and Isaiah; step grandfather to Geoffrey Gardella and Michael LaCross; and godfather to Ben Murphrey.

Beloved Crisp nieces and nephews include Donna Helen, Cynthia, Shelley (Myles Standish), Rebekah, Priscilla (deceased), John (Isabel), and Grover Crisp, Susan DeBie (Robert), Laura Bowen, Debra Tidball (Kevin), Teri Watkins (David Reiff), Anne Brown (Richard), Frank Auman (Karen), William Auman (deceased), Mary Ellen Durham, and their families. Much loved Chastain relatives include sister-in-law Grace Shafir Reiss, Nicole Quiroga (Gabriel), Melody Shafir (Chad Gutstein), Jereann Zann (Lawren), Georgeanna Shafir (Jason Harvey), and their children. Special family members include dear sister-in-law Harriet Crisp, cousin Lowell Smith (Carole Yardley), Rose Crisp, Benny Waugh, Amy Wandless (Greg), the Gallaghers and Schoners, and long time friends the Murphreys and the Plunketts.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Sutton’s on April 26 at 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, remember Jim by spreading joy into the world: speak to a stranger, tell a joke, show kindness, tip a musician, find the humor in your life and spread it out into the world. Jim is and will be missed by many. A favorite Jimism that is so true: “After all, what is there there not to love?”