Turning Old Church Into Arts Center

By Steve Daniel

For the past 20 years, Wil James ’76 has climbed ever higher on the Toyota management ladder, and in January 2007 was named president of TABC Inc., Toyota’s first manufacturing plant in North America. The first African American president in Toyota, he oversees a staff of 840 and an operation that makes parts for cars and trucks.

But while his office now is in Long Beach, Calif., it is only distance that separates him from his true roots. As a child, James lived, from grades 2 through 8, in the Lambert’s Point neighborhood just south of Old Dominion, where he would eventually earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology. In fact, he attended an elementary school that once was located on the present-day campus.

Following the death of his mother last August, James was approached by the Rev. Anthony Paige, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lambert’s Point, who asked if he would be interested helping transform the sanctuary of the old church (a new church opened in 2001) into a performing arts center in his parents’ names.

James, along with his sisters, was baptized in the old church, where his mother had been active for more than 40 years. It didn’t take long to accept the challenge. He is leading a $150,000 fundraising campaign to renovate the sanctuary.

“The old church is an integral part of that community,” he said. “To let it further deteriorate and just fall away would really be a tragedy.”

James believes it can be turned into “a popular and positive venue for the neighborhood youth, as well as adults,” and there has even been talk about partnerships with ODU’s theater program. But for now, it is donations of both money and labor that are needed to turn the vision into reality. And James, a man of religious conviction, has faith that it will happen.

Contributions may be sent to the church in care of “James Performing Arts Center Project,” 1268 W. 38th St., Norfolk, VA 23508.