James Calvin Finley born March 5, 1929 in Greenville, SC, departed this life peacefully on January 28, 2014. James Calvin Finley, also known as “Jim” was the second born of six children. He was born the third generation out of slavery from slaves imported from Africa into the Port of Charleston S.C. Jim was educated in the Greenville, South Carolina public school system. He later moved to Washington, D.C. in the early 1940′s. He became an amateur boxer in his early twenties, even winning a Golden Glove championship. He soon made many friends throughout the Washington, D.C. boxing community. Jim joined the US Army where he served honorably. He met the love of his life Mercedes Olivia Smith, while she was attending Virginia State College. They married in 1953 and remained together for 60 years. His first business venture was as owner of several ESSO service stations in Washington D.C. From there, he opened Finley’s Auto Body Repair shop located at 518 10th St., N.E. Washington D.C. His love for boxing prompted him to open Finley’s Boxing Gym in the loft of the auto body shop. Many famous boxers walked the narrow staircase leading to the gym; Jim welcomed anyone […]
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