Valerie Victoria James, 17, R.2, Wolcott, died Friday, June 20, at 7 p.m. in White Co. Memorial Hospital. She died of injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

She was born Nov. 27, 1979, to Frank and Cathy Gudeman James, in Lafayette.

She lived in Wolcott her entire life, and was a senior at Tn-County High School.

She was active in 4-H as a vice- president of Junior Leaders, a counselor at 4-H Camp Tecumseh and a State Junior Leader Conference Delegate in 1996. She was a member of OK Kids Team for Kids Against Drugs.

She was awarded the State Achievement Award and the 4-H Congress National Scholarship trip to Memphis in 1996.

She was an accomplished seamstress having placed in the Top 15 every year she was eligible at the Indiana State Fair Dress Revue and bad been awarded the 4-H Dress Revue/Clothing Scholarship.

She was a 4-H State Congress winner.  She was a speech finalist at the National 4-H Conference and was the local 4-H Club's president in 1997.

She was president of the Tri-County FFA Chapter and of FFA District One.  She earned her State FFA Degree this year.

Her Ag Issues team was a National Finalist at the 1996 FFA National Convention in Kansas City.  She was an FFA District Winner in Leadership as a Greenhand.

She earned the runner-up award for Star Reporter at the 1997 Indiana State FFA Convention.

She was on the Tri-County girls golf team, receiving the Most Improved Player award in 1995 and the Best Season Average award in 1996.

She was a member of the high school's girls track team for two years and was on a school record-setting 3200-meter relay team.

She was on the yearbook staff, and a member of the Sunshine Society.

She was listed in the 1995-96 edition of "Who's Who Among American High School Students."

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Remington.

Surviving are her parents; a brother, Michael James, at home; grandparents Milt and Barbara Gudeman, Monticello and grandparents Harold and Ruth James, Wolcott.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday at Tri-County High School.  The service was officiated by Dr. James W. Blanchard.  She was buried at the Wolcott Cemetery.

Arrangements were made by Foster Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to a memorial fund established in her name at the Bank of Wolcott for the benefit of the FFA Learning Center in Trafalgar.