Concerned Women for America (CWA) mourns the passing of North Carolina State Senator James Forrester, who entered into the presence of the Lord on Monday, October 31, 2011. We extend our sincerest and heartfelt sympathy to his wife Mary Frances and to all of the Forrester family.
A memorial service for Senator Forrester will be held on Sunday, November 6, at the First Baptist Church in Stanley, North Carolina. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. Sen. Forrester and his wife of 52 years, Mary Frances, were blessed with three daughters, one son, and eight grandchildren.
Sen. Forrester, who was 74, was born in Scotland and came to America as a child. His family stayed in the U.S. until after World War II, when they returned to Scotland. When he was 11, he returned to the U.S. He eventually settled in North Carolina and earned his medical degree from what is now Wake Forest University. Sen. Forrester was a family practitioner and retired from the North Carolina Air National Guard as a Brigadier General. He served in the military during the Vietnam War.
Sen. Forrester was a long-time friend of Concerned Women for America. His wife, Mary Frances, was a state director for CWA of North Carolina and continues to serve as associate director for the organization. Sen. Forrester hosted CWA of North Carolina’s annual Day of Legislation in Raleigh; he promoted Judeo-Christian values at every opportunity, and he served the 41st District and the citizens of North Carolina for twenty years with integrity and distinction.
Sen. Forrester was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 1991. During his time in the State Legislature, he introduced over 30 bills which are now law. Since 1995, he has worked to get legislation passed to place a Marriage Amendment on the ballot in North Carolina. Success finally came just weeks ago when both houses of the state legislature approved the amendment for the ballot in May 2012.
Concerned Women for America of North Carolina has a strong foundation in North Carolina; much of that strength has come because Jim and Mary Frances have answered God’s call to service and have poured themselves into this ministry. Jim will be greatly missed by Concerned Women for America. We have been blessed to call him our friend.