James A. Fields

James A. Fields, 77, passed away on Friday, December 17, 2021 in a local hospital. Born in Norfolk, he was the son of the late Hubert Reading Fields and Lili Habib Fields. His grandparents were Dr. Alpheus and Sally Schavender Fields, and James M. Habib and Linda Alexander Habib, all of Norfolk.

He attended Maury High School and graduated from Granby High in 1963. He graduated Old Dominion University in 1968 with a degree in Business Management.

After graduating, he worked as a fashion clothing buyer for Rich's of Atlanta. Then he worked 16 years as the fashion merchandise director at Smith & Welton in Norfolk.

In 1985 he and his mother opened Lili's of Ghent, named after his mother, and operated for 32 years as Norfolk's premier ladies fashion boutique. Lili's was well known for its breath-taking fashion shows at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Princess Anne CC, James River CC, Newport News Woman's Club, and several venues including AKA and the Williamsburg Humane Society. Producing the fashion shows was one of his favorite things, and he was well renowned for it. He was on the Board of the Ghent Merchants Association and proud of his affiliation with Palace Shops in Ghent as one of its longest running businesses.

Mr. Fields is survived by his sister, Virginia Fields Emerson and brother-in-law John Dale Emerson of Baltimore. He loved his nephew, James Peyton Emerson; his niece, Mariah Emerson Gertz and her husband, Donald Gertz; and great niece, Hadley Gertz, also of Baltimore. He was a loving brother and adoring nephew.

Mr. Fields was a supporting member of the "Friends of Music Program" at Christ & Saint Luke's Episcopal Church. He cherished sacred music in a sacred space and wanted to share that beauty with his community.

His friends will miss Jimmy's quick wit and contagious smile. He was affectionately known as the ‘Mayor of Ghent' and was often stopped on the street or in the market all the way up until the end by affectionate admirers and longtime customers.

Due to COVID risks, a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital Foundation, 1309 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA, 23502 or to the Friends of Music Program at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 560 W. Olney Rd., Norfolk, VA 23507.

Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.