James Clifton Prince

James Clifton “Cliff” Prince, age 78, passed from this life early Tuesday morning, March 7, 2023, at Willow Creek Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Byram, MS.  He was known to friends and family as Cliff.  Cliff was born to Allen Clifton Prince and Winnie Doris Bishop of Laurel, MS.  He graduated with the class of 1962 at George S. Gardiner High School in Laurel, where he lettered in football and was an all-around athlete.  He served in the United States Marine Corp as a medic and served in the Vietnam in 1962.  After returning to the States, he served as a PTSD therapist at VA Hospitals for Vietnam Veterans for many years.  He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in engineering in 1976.  He established a career as an engineer on North Sea oil rigs in Aberdeen, Scotland.  He loved traveling around Scotland, enjoying the beautiful scenery and rugged coastline.  Aside from his work, he was a talented artist, painting and drawing landscapes and portraits of those he loved and admired.  He had a strong faith and a kind heart, and loved visiting with friends and family, sharing a laugh and his special gift of optimism and gratitude. 

He lived in Byram, until his death, where he was cared for and lovingly called “Bops” by his friends, Melvin and Lyn York, John David and Monica Degruise, and Jason, John, and Shelby York. 

He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Wayne T. Bishop of New York.

He is survived by his daughters, Karina Cox of Oxford, England, and Melanie Chesser of Starkville, MS.  Along with those are his grandchildren, Dominique, Francis, and Lily Boulle of England, Carleigh of Mississippi, and a great grandson, Atlas from England, and special friends, The Yorks and The Degruise’s of Byram, Mississippi. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 3:00 pm, at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram.