James Gibson Alverson, IV
April 11, 2003 ~ November 20, 2023
Born in:
Leesburg, Virginia
Resided in:
Falls Church , Virginia
James Gibson Alverson IV – known to all as Jimmy – passed away peacefully at age 20 on November 20, 2023, surrounded by his family at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. His death resulted from complications of medulloblastoma brain cancer, with which he was diagnosed in 2015, and AML leukemia.
Jimmy was a lifelong resident of the City of Falls Church. He participated in Falls Church Kiwanis Little League and Greater Vienna Babe Ruth baseball, Falls Church recreation league basketball, soccer, and flag football, high school golf, and Cub Scout Pack 657 and Scout Troop 895. He graduated from George Mason High School in 2021. At the time of his death, Jimmy was a junior at James Madison University, where he majored in sports and recreation management. He was a member of Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington.
Jimmy is survived by his parents, Susan and Jim, his sister and his brother-in-law Sarah and Neil Menon, his brother John, his sister Rebecca, his grandmother Judy Alverson of North Tustin, California, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A private burial service for Jimmy took place at Oakwood Cemetery in the City of Falls Church. A celebration of Jimmy’s life will occur at a later date.
Memorial contributions in Jimmy’s Name may be made to one of the following organizations for Children with Cancer
The Casey Cares Foundation https://www.caseycares.org/
Special Love https://specialove.org/
Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation https://www.believeintomorrow.org/
Camp Sunshine, Casco, Maine https://www.campsunshine.org/
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Bob Gallagher
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His memory will always be a blessing to all who crossed paths with him.
Immediately following the initial operation and at the start of an arduous recovery process, he got out his calendar, and figured out how long he had until seasons end. Jimmy joyfully returned and made the most of every opportunity while uplifting us all; not only our team but everyone across the league. One play I will never forget as it summarized how he approached life. He was on third base and a clean single was hit between third and short into left field. Jimmy could have easily walked home and scored. Instead he ran as hard as he could sliding into home plate as if scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth of game seven of the World Series.
His was a soaring life well lived, and now no longer confined by his body, I know Jimmy is soaring to even greater heights and is rooting for us all. I am so grateful to know him. God Bless Jimmy and God Bless Team Alverson.
Peace, Coach Webb
during their summer and holiday visits over the years. I wish
there had been more time together. Jimmy always impressed me
with his politeness, sense of humor, and ability to listen with
interest to what others said. He was an intelligent and enthusiastic
person who would have made is great grandfather, James Gibson
Alverson, very proud.
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with him and admire his
courageous spirit during his battle with cancer over the years.
His family did a wonderful job along with his doctors in providing
the maximum quality of life for him.
I will never forget dear Jimmy and the his school graduation photo
I have will always be a great reminder of his amazing spirit.
Love always,
Randy Bramstedt
Please know we are all thinking of you, Alverson Family, and celebrating Jimmy’s incredible life while mourning that he was taken far too soon. May his memory always be a blessing for all those whose lives he touched
Brittanie, Dan, Jonah, and Brandon Werbel
I don’t remember meeting Jimmy, he’s just always been around. He was on our bus on the way to kindergarten and first grade, so it had to be around then that my brother and I first met him. When you’re young you become closest to those in close proximity to you, and Jimmy was one of those people. We live very close by so Jimmy, my brother Peter, Carter Mackinnon, and I were a band of young boys growing up together. As we got older we all stuck together and really influenced each other during the fundamental parts of our lives.
The day Jimmy got emergency surgery, we were supposed to go to house to work on a science project. We waited for him on the bus, waited for him outside of his house, then eventually went home confused. Our parents told us what had happened and since then, our lives have been different. Till the day I die, I will remember the day he came back and played in a Little League game after his first round of treatment. I’ll remember where I was, who I was with, and the tangible feeling of joy spread throughout the crowd.
Throughout the rest of our schooling Jimmy remained a part of all of our lives, but he couldn’t really grow up like we were. Treatment had stunted his growth and because we were a sporty group, he was often given the role of referee. Something I’ll always regret is maintaining the belief that that made him happy and using that as justification to keep doing things he couldn’t. I wish we had done more things he could do and I wish I could tell him that. The one thing we always had, no matter what, was our fantasy football league. We’re finishing up the 8th year and since its inception, Jimmy has been an essential part of our league. We all miss him dearly, and playing won’t be the same without him.
Each of us who knew him will think about Jim for the rest of our lives. For me, I’ll think about him every time I do something new. I’ll tell myself “you’re here, but Jim can’t be.” “He’ll never be able to have this.” That used to make me horribly sad. Now, I’ve come to see it as a responsibility. He can’t be with us, so it’s our job to live joyfully for him. I want to live with as much joy as he did and hopefully make him proud.
Brother, I love and miss you so much. Home isn’t the same without you, and all of us here wish we had more time with you. We’ll take care of your family, your home, and your Chiefs for you as long as we’re around. I’m grateful for the time we had with you and that you’re able to rest now. See you when I see you Jim, thinking about you always.
My family has known the Alversons seemingly forever; our boys played baseball and basketball together and Jimmy, Jack and Peter were in the same scout den. Whenever I think of him, I think of a smile going from ear to ear, regardless of whether we were on a hot dusty baseball field or on a freezing scout campout. I also remember seeing him walk to school in freezing weather, proudly sporting shorts — I would remind him that he wasn’t a Californian…and he’d give me that smile.
My mind goes back to our boys’ league 12 season in little league, after Jimmy’s initial treatments. He couldn’t play to start the season and was very weak from the chemo. I remember him coming back late that season and playing in a game, stealing bases, pitching, and bringing the crowd to its feet. I’ve been to World Series games that didn’t have that excitement. I’ve known decorated soldiers who didn’t display his courage.
I was privileged to know this young man and am so incredibly saddened that he was taken far too soon. I hope that his family knows how much he was loved, how many lives he touched, and how fondly he will be remembered.
My heart breaks for his family and his friends, and I hope that they find some comfort in his memory.
My favorite memory is when we all went to Huntington Beach and had a bonfire. It was a perfect California day. The ocean was unseasonably warm that year and the waves were high. We were all body surfing. Jimmy didn’t have full use of his limbs but he jumped the waves and bodysurfed along with the rest of us with a big smile on his face. Roasted hot dogs and sausages and then s’mores late into the night. Our family picture on the beach. It was a good day.
I was very sorry to hear of Jimmy’s passing. My daughters, Nora and Lydia, and I remember fondly our adventures with the Alverson family at the Family Life retreat when all the kids were toddlers and grade-school age. I will keep your family in my prayers. Jimmy was an inspiration to so many people.
Thank you so much for allowing our family to love Jimmy. He was such a sweet kid— always chatty— and just a truly kind boy. Our neighborhood was made better because of him.
So many memories of him growing through the years. A personal favorite is when we all decorated cookies for the holidays. Jimmy was so stinkin’ cute, licking the icing, helping the younger kiddos with their cookies, and obviously just so excited for Christmas! And his face when Santa loudly came down the street in his fire truck— dancing, waving, calling hello to Santa and hollering for a candy cane. Oh, he was edible!
Even at the lowest points, Jimmy was smiling. Such a bright star. We’ll miss him always and will never forget him. Thank you bringing him into our lives.
We cherish our memories of Jimmy and are grateful to have known him. Thank you for sharing him.
With love,
The Hills