Former principal in New Kent school system succumbs

By Community Member | November 18, 2014 7:16 pm

Jim Lanham, who served as an elementary school principal and held other administrative posts in New Kent schools, died Nov. 12 at the age of 60 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Lanham served as principal at New Kent Elementary School, now George W. Watkins Elementary School, during the 1990s. He was at the helm when the school building was renamed in Watkins’ honor in 1998.

Lanham left New Kent before the start of the 2000-01 school year to accept an assistant superintendent’s post in Dinwiddie County. He later moved on to the state Department of Education before returning to teaching, this time on the college level at the University of Richmond where he worked until he retired due to health concerns.