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Obituary and life story submitted by the family

J

ames “Jimmy” Edward Ragan, III, 84, of Oriental, NC, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at his home in Oriental, NC.

Judge James Edward Ragan, III

Born on July 21, 1941, in New Bern, NC to James Edward Ragan, Jr. and Sue Sanders Ragan, Jimmy graduated from Pamlico County High School, North Carolina State University, and later, the University of Baltimore School of Law. He married Marilyn Henry on December 28, 1964. He was a member of the Army Reserves, where he was honorably discharged in 1970.

Jimmy and Marilyn moved back to Oriental to raise their children, and he opened his own law practice in Bayboro, NC. In 1979, he was appointed by Governor Jim Hunt as a local District Court Judge, where he served until 1991. In 1991, he was appointed Chief District Court Judge of Judicial District 3B (Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico Counties), where he served until 1994. He was then appointed Resident Superior Court Judge in 1994, again by Governor Hunt, and later as a Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, where he served until his retirement in 2002.

After his retirement, he became an emergency Superior Court judge serving the state of North Carolina. Jimmy was a member of the North Carolina State Bar for over 50 years. He helped establish the first Drug Treatment Court of North Carolina, served as the Chairman of the Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee, the Board of Governors, and the Ethics Committee of the North Carolina Association of District Court Judges.

Judge Ragan with his wife Marilyn.

Years later in his retirement, he wanted to stay engaged and challenge himself, so he set out at 78 years of age to become an NC-licensed real estate agent.

He was a cofounder of the nonpartisan group, Pamlico Partners for Democracy, where he spoke throughout the state about constitutional issues and the rule of law. He was noted for promoting the installation of prescription drug drop-off boxes at the Sheriff’s Department of Pamlico County. Jimmy was a deeply involved community volunteer in numerous organizations, including the Oriental Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He worked with Meals on Wheels and was a founding member of the Pamlico County Booster Club. He also served on the Board of Trustees for HeartWorks and the Pamlico Community College.

Jimmy and Marilyn.

Jimmy was an avid and gifted storyteller, with a sharp wit and a keen ability to capture and hold the attention of those in his company with his stories, jokes, and infectious laugh. He was a loyal patron of the performing arts and theatre, in particular, and was himself a published playwright. His published plays include Life Goes On, and For the People, which were produced throughout various community theaters in NC, OH, and NY. He also wrote several educational plays for local students about the signing of the US Constitution.

Jimmy was a local historian and developed a passion for exploring his family genealogy. Throughout his entire life, he enjoyed being out on the water boating, fishing, and hunting. Among his great joys in the outdoors were duck hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren.

Jimmy at Storytelling Night at The Old Theater, May 2016.

Jimmy possessed a strong sense of civic duty and community engagement. He sincerely loved his home community of Oriental and Pamlico County, and he remained engaged with them in countless ways throughout his life. Jimmy was an incredibly devoted and involved husband, father, and grandfather who actively supported and intimately knew everyone in his family. He enjoyed an authentic, deep personal relationship with each and every one of them.

Jimmy is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Marilyn Henry Ragan; daughter, Renee Ragan Schrom (Eric) of Boiling Springs Lakes, NC; son, James “Jamie” (Penny) Edward Ragan IV of Goldsboro, NC; as well as five grandchildren, Josh Schrom, Joe Schrom, Emily Schrom, Lacey Ragan, Kate Ragan; and four great-grandchildren, Maddie Schrom, Sadie Schrom, Derek McLawhorn, and Gavin McLawhorn. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, George Ragan.

Judge Jimmy and his family.

A visitation will be held on Monday, March 30th, from 5:30 to 7:30p at Daniels-Sadler Funeral Home in Alliance, NC. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 31st, at 11a at the Oriental United Methodist Church. Inurnment will take place privately at a later date at the Oriental UMC Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HeartWorks, PO Box 365, Bayboro, NC 28515 or to the Pamlico Community College Foundation, PO Box 185, Grantsboro, NC 28529.

Posted Monday March 30, 2026 by Keith N. Smith