He was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and after his road tours in wrestling, he returned to raise his family as a full time Dad and husband to Betty Beasley.
I knew him as a simple man, a kind man, one centered on morality and community. He never drank alcohol, smoked a single cigarette, didn't vap anything and never took drugs.
He knew many people in his role as a professional wrestler. People loved him. Children would crowd around him. He would entertain their imaginations at fundraising events from time to time. But, I knew him best as a friend of my youngest son as they were both taxi cab owners and drivers. They carried their own crusades in local town council meetings for a "Taxi Stand" in downtown Wilmington. They also advocated for safer cabs for the drivers as there were several taxi drivers who lost their lives through violence by passengers. The taxi business in Wilmington, NC was not simple and it paid bearly enough to eke out a survival.
James Beasley loved his wife. He was portrayed as a lady's man at ringside, but, he loved his wife dearly. He never wandered. James never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes. He had no real vices to speak of as he worked anywhere from 12 to 14 hours per day, with a rare day off, except, for his wrestling matches.
Betty became ill with a heart condition and she became the focus of his vigilance. When she died at New Hanover Regional Medical Center a big piece of him died with her. The family had no monies to provide a proper burial and wake afterward, so they held post services in a garage where pictures and posters of her and her life were on display for people to pay their respects. I believe she was about 50 years old.
Life went along as it did until "Uber" came to town. Everyone who cared to make an extra dollar was offering local transportation, even students at UNCW. It devastated James the already marginal income to nothing. "Uber" destroyed the independent taxi business in Wilmington, NC and the state government could not care less. As a matter of fact, North Carolina Unemployment would hand out fliers to become an "Uber" driver when applying for unemployment benefits. The only thing for the independent owners to do was to becomes "Uber" drivers themselves. These were people without many skills, but, they could drive and made a living doing so. That was about 2015. Some families received Medicaid and food stamps after that to try to make ends meet.
Then in 2018 Hurricane Florence paid a visit to Wilmington, North Carolina. Afterward, James' stepson, Eric Wolfe (click here) became ill and was admitted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He complained about feeling ill, collapsed after a week in the hospital, rushed to the intensive care unit where the doctors finally discovered his body systems were failing. Eric would die at the age of 37 due to gross neglect in New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Now it comes to James. Devastated twice by people he loved dearly dying for what seemed needless and senseless losses. He lost Eric a year ago. It is said he recently was diagnosed with cancer. He went to the doctor's that Friday for a check-up with the understanding he would see the doctor again on Monday. James "The Beast" Beasley died that night. Best anyone can say is that he just died. He was not expected to die, but, to fight cancer. But, on Friday night he died alone at home at the age of 57 years old in my opinion of a broken heart and a lack of will to continue.
These three people died in the care of the medical professionals of New Hanover Regional Hospital. They died leaving behind people that loved them. Their lives were mostly absent by what most Americans call "normal." They worked hard, harder than they should have and their diets were limited to poverty economics. They always voted Republican no different than most of the impoverished working poor in the southern USA. They loved their country and would fly a flag in a heartbeat, but, their country didn't love them back.
James Beasley, his wife Betty and his stepson Eric will live in my heart forever. They were good decent people and received nothing more than a raw deal from their government and society.
