James attended Cleveland High School. In addition he studied blueprinting at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C.  As he reached early adulthood, he realized he was gifted in the area of dry wall construction and finishing.  James operated in this vocation for more than forty years.  His love for the trade resulted in James becoming a small business owner.  He founded and operated Peak’s Wallcrafters, Inc.  In this position, he was known for putting up foundations in homes, churches, as well as major community facilities, which was inclusive to Cleveland Mall as well as having the opportunity to work in the Bob Cat’s Arena.  James’s shared this gift of vocation in Cleveland, Rutherford, and Mecklenburg Counties, even reaching as far as Baltimore M.D.   James spent the latter years of his life as an employee of Cleveland Family Services, Inc. where he retired. 

     James accepted Christ and was baptized at Light Oak Baptist Church.  James was a founding member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church where he served as trustee and sang with the male choir. Additional passions of James included history.  He was affectionately known as the family historian.  He loved American History, specifically as it related to the plight of the African.  This was the impetus of his avid involvement in the 2008 Presidential Election.  James often shared his knowledge of the civil rights movement and African culture.  He was actively involved with the African American Culture Center and Black Minority Business Association in Charlotte, N.C.  These interests led him to bringing the celebration of Kwanzaa to Cleveland County.  He enjoyed collecting African art, which included drums, flags, and different artifacts and he shared this interest with others through a community culture center that he founded and operated in Shelby N.C.  At the community center, children were taught about their heritage, African dance and native languages.  His interest in family of origin led him to submit to DNA testing his last year of life.  James’s efforts traced his family roots to the Temne tribe in the country of Sierra Leone in Africa.  Other past times of James included fishing, and traveling to visit out of town family and friends.

     In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Ethel Lockhart and Mary Peak; two brothers, William Peak Jr. and Theodore Hart, and two brother in-laws Jerry Beasley and James “Sonny” Bell; special friends, Wanda Montgomery and Marie “Cookie Williams

     James leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Retha Smith Peak of Shelby N.C.; three sons, Anthony Peak (Amanda) of Shelby N.C., Jarrett Peak of Lowell M.A., Rodney Smith (Nicole) of Shelby, N.C.; two daughters, Sharon Smith of Kings Mtn., N.C. and Yolanda Hall of Shelby, N.C; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five sisters, Geneva Marshall (Ralph) of Baltimore, M.D., Doris Morris (Johnny) of Baltimore, M.D. and Carolyn Perry, Betty Bell and Sandra Beasley all of Shelby; seven brothers in-law, Walter Lockhart of Shelby, Bennie Smith (Julia), Gary Smith (Kathleen), James Smith (Frances), Albert Smith and Raymond Smith all of Shelby and William Smith of Vancouver, BC; two sisters-in-law, Mandy Hopper and Betty Sue Smith both of Shelby;. an aunt, Nora Saddler of Baltimore M.D.; three special nieces, Andre McCluney, (Quincy), who took care of him during his illness, Tanya Staten (Charles) of Kings Mountain, NC and Cassandra Bell-Gash (Bruce) of Shelby; a special great nephew Dana Dawkins  of Baltimore, M.D; special friends Kwame and Margaret Amanfoh, Juliet Nnuako and Edward Gullatte.

.  Enloe Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.