But the family got a surprise no one wants to hear when James was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023.
“I really didn’t feel like this was gonna end me,” he told People while publicly sharing his diagnosis in November 2024 to help raise awareness for early detection. “I really felt like this is gonna be the biggest life redirect. I’m gonna make changes that I never would have made otherwise—that I’m gonna look back on in a year, five years, 30 years from now and say, ‘Thank God that happened.’ And that’s how I was about 90 percent of the time. And then 10 percent of the time I was a sobbing, terrified mess.”
Through it all, James was able to lean on Kimberly.
“She’s been amazing,” he told Good Morning America the following month. “She’s really taught me what unconditional love is.”
And as James continued his fight against cancer, he knew he wouldn’t ever have to wait on her support.
“There are no words for how much I love and appreciate you,” he wrote to his bride in his August anniversary post. “I could not do this without you.”
Devoted until the very end, the pair exchanged fresh marriage vows days before James’ death. “Our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles and we renewed our vows from bed,” Kimberly detailed to People, calling the ceremony “simple and beautiful and moving.”
As his family prepares to move forward without him, look back on a life well-lived.