Community honors James Wooten: scholarship, memorial

TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KSHV) – It has been a year since the tragic death of James “JR” Wooten, who was killed in an apparent hit-and-run while riding his motorcycle. On Sunday (May 4th) dozens of his loved ones gathered at Harley-Davidson Texarkana to keep his memory alive.

“He always had a smile on his face most of the time. He was always happy go lucky and ready to help anybody he could,” says James’s mother, Jeanne, “He’d give the shirt off his back to anybody that needed it, didn’t have much money, but he’d give it away.”

That charitable heart is a legacy his family is trying to continue, looking to give back to the students at his alma mater, Liberty-Eylau High School.

“The welding class has turned his booth that he worked in into a memorial,” says Jeanne.

They have started a scholarship in his name, a total of $26,000 for welding and automotive students. The money was fundraised throughout the year, and they plan to continue to find ways to bring the community together for the cause.

“JR was really into cars and motorcycles, so we’ll have like a show and shine. We’ll do burgers for the community, another poker run,” said Michael Garza with Harley-Davidson Texarkana, “So there’s a lot of ways that people could get involved and support.”

At the end of the night, the group rode out together in a way that James would have appreciated. All of his friends and family traveled together to meet at his gravesite to hold a candlelight vigil, honoring the young man who left a big impact on the lives he touched.

The family says there is a plaque inside Harley-Davidson that includes a QR code that links to all the ways people can donate besides upcoming events.