James "Jim" Carl Huggins

James “Jim” Carl Huggins, 65, passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at his home in Mount Holly, NC. He was born on April 29, 1957, in Mecklenburg County to Richard Lee Huggins and Marlene Wallace Huggins.

Jim worked in broadcast radio and television for the majority of his career, and he enjoyed spending his free time with family. He was also an active member of his church. Jim lived a full life. He was a consummate entertainer with a sharp wit, yet he was an equally attentive listener. An expressive story teller, Jim loved to make people laugh, and he often joined in with a notable guffaw. When he wasn’t working, Jim could be found on his pontoon boat, spending his time drifting and fishing, particularly with his grandson, Jaden James Huggins. As a faithful leader in his church, Jim used his skills as a broadcaster and sound engineer to produce weekly services.  He began his career in broadcasting during a brief foray into higher education at the Virginia Commonwealth University, and he worked on and off in the industry for more than 40 years. Over the course of his radio career, he ran the Swap Shop for WCGC in Belmont, worked as “Slim Jim Huggins” for WHKY in Hickory, and broadcast airborne traffic reports as Jeff Pilot in Charlotte. He spent the last decade as the traffic reporter for Spectrum News (formerly News 14), and most recently broadcast traffic reports remotely for iHeartMedia. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Sharon “Shay” Bumgardner Huggins; their three children of whom he was exceedingly proud, Rachel Huggins, Amanda O’Brien and her husband Jonathan, and Max Huggins; his four grandchildren, who were the light of his life, Jaden Huggins, Aoife Spoto, Violet O’Brien, and Gemma O’Brien; his dear mother Marlene Huggins, brother Stacy Huggins, and brother from another mother, his cousin, Larry Hilliard; his nephews Mark Huggins and Andrew Huggins; and his “extra” daughters, Kenyia, Liz, and Kiersten. He was preceded in death by his father Richard Huggins. 

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jim will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at Life of Faith Fellowship in Gastonia, NC. 

Donations in honor of Jim may be made to the Levine & Dickson Hospice House by visiting www.hpccr.org/donate.