James Woolls
	2005
James Woolls, 72, a lawyer, died of lung cancer Sept. 15 at Inova Alexandria Hospital. He was a lifelong Alexandria resident.
Mr. Woolls was born in Alexandria and graduated from St. Mary's parochial school, St. John's College High School and the Virginia Military Institute. He served two years in the Army at Fort Hood, Tex., then enrolled in George Washington University Law School, graduating in 1958.
He was a law clerk in U.S. District Court in the eastern district of Virginia for nine months, then established a private practice in Alexandria. He represented clients in most civil and criminal courts in Northern Virginia and had worked as a substitute judge of municipal and general district courts since 1968. Mr. Woolls was a member of the U.S. Land Commission for condemnation cases from 1963 to 1972. He had served as a commissioner in the chancery of the Alexandria Circuit Court.
He retired last year.
Mr. Woolls enjoyed making furniture in his home workshop, gardening, listening to bluegrass and reading about history. He loved to play chess with his nieces and nephews, and gave no quarter.
He was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria.
Survivors include three sisters, Ruth Roberts Woolls Jr. of Broad Run, Elizabeth Woolls Akar of Bath, Maine, and Margaret Harmon Woolls of Alexandria.