Mr. James Edward Epinger

On August 27, 1957, James Edward Epinger was born in Chicago, IL. He was born to parents, James and Willie Mae Epinger and was the second son of seven children. James was a big baby born with a big personality, he was almost 10 lbs at birth. As a child, James was very mischievous a jokester-comedian always kept everyone around him laughing.

Willie Mae Epinger, the matriarch of the Epinger family, took all seven of her children to church every Sunday morning to St. Michaels Missionary Baptist Church, where James gave his life to God at a very early age. James participated in Sunday school and was baptized at St. Michael’s Missionary Baptist Church.

In 1967 the Epinger family moved to Jackson Blvd. in the Austin Community, wherevthe Epinger family lived for over fifty five years. James became very popular in thevAustin Community, he was very mischievous and always joking around with everyone. James was given a UNIQUE nickname by his life long friend Billy -“Moo Juice”,aka Juice. Most people in the Austin community only knew James as “Juice”.

James went to school at Burbank Elementary School and Austin H.S. where hevgraduated both. James loved playing sports and briefly played football at Austin H.S. 

James also acquired a great love for all different types of music, every time you saw James he was humming a tune. James’ favorite recording artist was Marvin Gaye and his favorite song was “Trouble Man”. James was such a mischievous child he wrote BIG TROUBLE MAN in permanent ink on the back porch wall and to this day, the marking is still on the wall. James briefly went to culinary school because he loved to cook, he worked in multiple restaurants in the Austin Community as a Cook. James also worked many years as a butcher at Greens Mini market on Jackson/Pulaski. James’ last employment was at Salvation Army as a Cook.

On August 16, 2025 James Edward Epinger passed away quietly and peacefully in his sleep. James was a great loving protective brother, and will be sorely missed by all that knew him. He is preceded in death by: His mother, Willie Mae Epinger; father, James Alvin Epinger; and brothers, Eric Raymond Epinger Sr. and Craig Steve Epinger.

James Edward Epinger leaves to cherish his loving memory: His brother, Robert- Bobby Epinger; sisters, Jacqueline Rogers, Jennifer Epinger and Melinda Epinger; brother-in-law, William Rogers; close cousin, Vanessa Robinson; nephews, Adam Sandifer, Eric Epinger Jr and Tacorri Epinger; niece, Lanitra Sandifer-Hicks; and a host of cousins, great nieces, great nephews and a multitude of friends in the Austin community. Rest in peace my Loving Brother, Rest in Peace.