Dr. James Franklin Wells, Jr.

Dr. James Franklin Wells Jr., 82, died peacefully at home on September 12, 2026, in Conover, North Carolina. Surrounded by loving family. “Frank”, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Rutherford County on July 17, 1944, arriving just 15 minutes after his twin sister. He grew up in Henrietta, North Carolina, just a few houses down from the grocery store his family ran for nearly 90 years, where he worked as a youth.

Frank left his Western North Carolina home to continue his education, earning a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Alabama in 1973. For more than 40 years, he served as a board-certified psychologist and program director, working primarily with individuals with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders at the former Brenham State School in Brenham, Texas, and Caswell Center in Kinston, North Carolina. He was an active member of the North Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis and he remained deeply committed to his profession. A lifelong scholar and lover of the written word, Frank often recited poems, C.S. Lewis essays, and Bible verses from memory. He was well versed in History and numerous interesting topics people enjoyed listening to him share his knowledge. He recently assisted Loretta with the NC Nurse Honor Guard as their volunteer photographer.

After retiring in 2015, Frank devoted himself to his wife Loretta and family, with whom he enjoyed traveling, hiking, numerous adventures in nature as well as visiting family in Texas and the Pacific Northwest. They shared a strong Christian faith and a deep connection to God through study and service to others. Frank is survived by his wife, Loretta Morgan Wells; his son and son-in-law, Jonathan and David Wells; his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Emma Wells; his stepdaughter, Tammy Shaffer; his niece, Susan "Margueritte" Cox; two grandsons, Noah Wells and Jonah Wells; and two step-grandsons, Earl Adam Hefner and Patton Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Margueritte and James Franklin Wells Sr., and his twin sister, Margueritte "Susan" Cox, and her husband, David Cox.

Loretta and family would like to thank his cancer care team at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist and his hospice team at Carolina Caring for their compassionate care.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ located at 217 2nd Ave NE, Conover, NC 28613, from 11:00 am to 11:45 am. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ at 12:00 pm. A graveside service will follow in the Liledoun Baptist Church Cemetery located at 2628 Liledoun Road, NC 28681, at 3:00 pm. Rev. Peggy Stout and Rev. Kevin White will officiate.

Donations may be made to a charity of your choosing at Frank’s request.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service.

Condolences may be sent to www.alexfuneralservice.com