Robert L. James was one of ten children born in New York to the late Horatio N. James and Beatrice I. Julian of Antigua, West India.

was married to Flora. Born from this union were ten children.

Robert is survived by his ten children, Robert Jr., Wanda, Wilma, Brenda, Lena, Alan, Flora, Willie, Jesse and Cecil; his sister, Theresa; seven grandchildren, Celecia, Njina, Tatiana, Aliya, Myla, Nassir and Josiah; one great grandchild, Jace; one son-in-law, Runell.
Robert loved fishing, playing paddle ball and travelling to Bermuda as much as he could.