James Lee Short, beloved husband, father, son, brother, athlete, and coach, passed away on Monday, April 29th in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after a hard-fought battle with a debilitating illness. He has returned to the loving arms of our heavenly father, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration, kindness, and a life rich in accomplishments and relationships.
Born March 27th, 1975, to Clifford Wayne and Judy Annette Short, James spent his early years crashing BMX bikes and catching unsuspecting critters in the hills of rural Arizona before relocating to Hendersonville, North Carolina. He attended Edneyville and North Henderson High Schools, graduating with the class of 1994.
One of the most accomplished athletes in the school’s history, James was a state champion wrestler for North Henderson and a high school All-American. His dominance in the sport was solidified as the founding member of the Strong & Courageous Wrestling Club, known nationally for its tradition of producing champion wrestlers founded on Christian values.
After graduation, James briefly attended Clemson University on a wrestling scholarship before transferring to Purdue and then Gardner Webb University, where he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. He continued to find success at the collegiate level, becoming a University National All-American and US Open All-American. He was then recruited by the United States Army to compete as a member of the World Class Athlete program and participated in the US Olympic trials in 2000. His bid for the 2004 Games was cut short as he was recalled to active duty and served two tours as a member of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After leaving the Army, he returned to his adopted state of Colorado and completed his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at Colorado State University Pueblo. He then went on to launch several successful businesses, including Trainerzedge Personal Training, Train OC Portable Obstacle Course, and Neighborhood Movers. When not working to build his businesses, he could be found skiing and biking in the Rocky Mountains, teaching his popular MMA class at Lifetime Fitness, or suffering for fun while participating in Spartan or Tough Mudder obstacle races. He married his wife Jacqui (Blazier) in 2016, and together they welcomed two beautiful, spirited daughters, Rachel Annette in 2018 and Ashley Elaine in 2021.
While James has joined his parents in heaven, his legacy lives on through his wife and daughters, his brothers David Short, Daniel Short, Steven Short, Jonathan Short, and sister Mary Roberto. He will be remembered for his brilliant smile, unbeatable work ethic, unshakable positivity, servant’s heart, and the kindness and care he gave to everyone he met.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, May 9th, at 10 a.m. at Upward Christian Fellowship in Hendersonville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Strong and Courageous Foundation to provide developmental programming scholarship opportunities for future generations of wrestlers.
Jackson Funeral Service is honored to serve the James L. Short family.
