On the morning of May 26, 2025, the angels wrapped their arms around our beloved uncle, James Walter Canaday (Birch), and carried him to a new home with the Lord. James affectionately known as Jimmy, was born on August 4, 1931 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Jimmy was the adopted grandson of the late Jim and Sidney Birch.

Jimmy was raised by his grandparents, as a sibling to Eric Matthew Birch and Carrie Iola Birch, on the family farm in Cumberland, Virginia. He joined Zion Baptist Church at an early age. Jimmy loved to sing and play the guitar. He was a member of a singing group organized in 1947 named the Zion Six, which performed at a variety of local events. The group sang on the a radio program on Sundays until 1953.

Jimmy was educated in the Cumberland County School Systems. He subsequently relocated to Montclair, New Jersey to establish his adult life. He was employed as a factory worker in new Jersey for several years. Jimmy retired as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Although he later moved to the southern part of New Jersey and spent the remainder of his years in Sicklerville, Jimmy never forgot his roots in Cumberland, Virginia. He often visited his childhood home and especially returned to Cumberland with other family members for Homecoming Week at Zion Baptist Church.

Jimmy was a very loving and caring person. He would make friends everywhere he went. He had a passion for raising vegetable gardens and cooking. Jimmy also loved sports, especially baseball and horse racing.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his brother, Eric Birch (1997) and sister Carrie Iola Birch (2023). He leaves to cherish his memory a devoted nephew, Walter Birch (JoAnne) of Bowie, MD, nieces Joyce Tunrderall of Hampton, VA, Deborah Lawson of Union, NJ, Velma Liggins of Union, NY, several grandnephews and grandnieces, a devoted friend Reginald Mohammad of Sicklerville, NJ and a host of other relatives and friends.