Rev. James “Jim” Henry Maxwell, 86 years old, born January 25, 1939, passed away on November 5, 2025, in Chelsea, Michigan.
Born to Frank “Donald” and Letitia “Pat” Maxwell, Jim was raised in Yonkers, New York. He attended Gordon High School. A lifelong athlete, he played basketball (“infamously” once at Madison Square Gardens), and was an avid runner until his legs no longer could carry him that way. While attending Columbia University, he served as captain of the track team and completed his undergraduate studies. He also enjoyed tennis well into his 70s—still managing to win the occasional game even after adopting a cane on the court. Following college, Jim responded to a call to serve God, amending plans to go into engineering, instead completing a master’s degree in divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. After ordination as an Episcopal priest, Jim’s first church assignment placed him in Covington, Kentucky, where he met Martha May “Mardi” Maxwell, the daughter of the Rector. She became the love of his life, and together they shared 60 years of marriage. They moved to Philadelphia in 1967, where they welcomed their three children: Stephen (1968), Timothy (1970), and Debra (1972).
In 1973, the family moved to Milford, PA, where Jim served as Rector of the St. John’s Church of the Good Shephard until 1979, when Jim moved with his family to Ferndale, MI. Jim served as Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ferndale from 1979 until his retirement in 2004, and later also served St. Margaret’s in Hazel Park. Deeply committed to service, particularly efforts geared towards diversity, inclusion, and equality, Jim was ahead of his time. Always humble, many may not have realized the extent of his efforts – which led him to many amazing feats – including meeting Martin Luther King Junior and attending John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Inauguration. Jim was a pioneer within the Episcopal church inciting acceptance of gender and ethnic minorities into leadership roles. Deeply committed to helping the vulnerable, he was a co-founder of the South Oakland Shelter (SOS) (now part of Lighthouse), receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for his role. Despite his demanding schedule, his greatest joy was his family, and he never missed a single event in his children’s lives, and this continued with each of his grandchildren. Jim was also a devoted friend, and kept friendships from early childhood, including “The Big Ten”, who kept in touch with monthly virtual visits even after they could no longer travel to be together. His compassion touched countless lives—reflected in the hundreds of Christmas cards he received each year from people he had supported and uplifted. Jim and Mardi moved from their house in Ferndale to the Chelsea Retirement Community in 2018 where they have enjoyed their time, met new friends and received excellent care.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Leticia and Donald, and his sister, Joan (Daryl). He is survived by his beloved wife, Mardi; his children Stephen (Deb), Tim (Suzanne), and Debra (Andy); his brother Peter (Anne); and his grandchildren Jacob, Maxwell, Nicholas, Taylor, Alison, Michael, Catriona, and Mitchell, along with (through marriage), Abigail, Caitlin, and Ashley Houde, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Towsley Village Memory Care Chapel, 805 West Middle Street, Chelsea, Michigan, 48118, on Saturday December 20th, 2025, at Noon. Preceding the service, at 11AM, the family will receive visitors, and the service will be followed by light refreshments. Interment will be held privately with family at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Memorial Garden in Ferndale.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund by following this link https://support.episcopalrelief.org or by mailing a check to Episcopal Relief & Development, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
You may share a memory or leave a message for Jim's family using the form below. Please allow up to 24 hours for us to review and post your message.