Obituary of James Ivan Cornelius

Jim Cornelius, 'very generous' If you were in need, you couldn't have a better friend than Jim Cornelius. "He was the kindest, gentlest man I've ever met," said Mr. Cornelius' wife, Joyce Robinson-Cornelius. "He was very generous. "He would be there if you needed anything. He was the first one to be there. I don't care what time of day or what time of night, he was there to help you or somehow give you what you had need of." James Ivan Cornelius Jr., 60, of Union, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital in Florence after suffering a heart attack. He was a salesman with Holiday Homes and a member of Gathering Place Church in Florence, where his wife is pastor. "He supported me and stood with me at the church," said his wife. "But he said, 'I am not a preacher, and I don't want to go up front. That's not my part.'" Instead, he greeted people at services and helped with work projects there. "He was such a blessing to me and our church," Mrs. Cornelius said. Mr. Cornelius enjoyed his work as Holiday Homes salesman. "He was a salesman all his life, and he loved sales," his wife said. "It had to do with talking to people and he enjoyed being with people." Mr. Cornelius' favorite hobby was golf. "He loved being outside and he loved playing golf," said his wife. "He liked to get out and be with friends. "He loved his family - his children and grandchildren. He loved to play with the kids." Mr. Cornelius was a world traveler. "You name it and he had been there," said his wife. "We went to Hawaii, Myrtle Beach, England, New York, Puerto Rico and took cruises. We especially enjoyed the ocean and beach." Mr. Cornelius' first wife, Phyllis Cornelius, preceded him in death. Other survivors include sons, James Ivan "Jamey" Cornelius III of Taylor Mill and Brian S. Cornelius of Florence; a stepson, Chad M. Robinson of Union; a stepdaughter, Jody Cuzick of Verona; his mother, Phyllis Cornelius of Hamilton, Ohio; brothers, Richard Gene Cornelius of Hamilton and Mark Edwin Cornelius of Orange Park, Fla.; three grandchildren and six step-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at noon Saturday at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Gathering Place Church, 10310 Dixie Highway, Florence, Ky. 41042.