Perry Honored With Inaugural Melvin Wright Jr. Peacemaker Award

James “Jimbo” Perry was honored with the inaugural Melvin Wright Jr. Peacemaker Award during the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism Award dinner on Jan. 21. The award recognizes his “steadfast dedication to seeking peace and collegiality among the legal community in North Carolina.”

James “Jimbo” Stockton Perry attended undergraduate school at UNC as part of the class of 1977. His pre-law advisor assessed Perry’s chances at attending UNC Law to be very low, given that he came to advising without wearing shoes and having very long hair. That same advisor would one day call on Perry during his first day at UNC Law as a 1L four years later.

After practicing with a private law firm and then serving as an Assistant US Attorney in the Eastern District, Perry and his wife moved to Kinston where he joined the family firm Perry, Perry & Perry where he practiced what he has called “small town law” for almost 40 yrs. In addition, he has become known in the community, having consistently volunteered weekly since 1988, as a founding member and elder of Grace Fellowship Church, and in leadership positions with countless community organizations like the Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club and the community men’s home for addiction recovery, while also being a part of a core group that started a Christian camp that now serves under-resourced children throughout ENC.   

Among other accolades, Perry was awarded the Kinston-Lenoir County Citizen of the Year in 2021 and the Chief Justice’s Professionalism Award in 2022. In 2023, he joined the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism and began serving as the Executive Director in 2025.   

In his new Commission role, he is enjoying asking lawyers to “keep the end in mind” and to prioritize building people-focused practices in service of their local neighbors.