He was born August 3, 1942 in Catawba County to the late Charles Edgar kincaid and Katie Ramseur Kincaid. James was a lab technician with Virginia Vinyl. He enjoyed playing the guitar, singing gospel music, carpentry and landscaping.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter Amanda Forney Freeman, brothers, William Kincaid, Matthew Kincaid, Gerald Kincaid; and brother-in-law, Luther Lohr, Jr.