James Russell “Jim” Corbett passed away peacefully at home on Monday, August 17, 2026. He was born in Durham, North Carolina, on December 3, 1940, and lived his adult life in Newport News, Virginia. He was a graduate of Warwick High School, Class of 1959, East Carolina University, and Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William & Mary. He practiced law in Newport News from 1970 until August 17, 2025. Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves prior to graduating high school and was honorably discharged.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Audrey Jane Corbett (Brannan); his father, Allen Russell Corbett; his sister, Virginia Sue Garrett; and his wife, Irene Luise Corbett.
He is survived by his daughters, Norma Corbett Barrett (Vance) of Daleville, Virginia, and Debby Thorvaldson (Eric) of Yorktown, Virginia. He is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Hunter Barrett of Nashville, Tennessee, Josh Thorvaldson (Kayle), and Eric Thorvaldson Jr. (Caitlin) of Yorktown, Virginia; and 2 great-grandchildren, Ayden and Emylin Thorvaldson.
Jim was deeply proud to have been born into a farming family. He held a special place in his heart for North Carolina and always shared wonderful stories of the farm. As an attorney and member of the Virginia State Bar Association for over 50 years, he handled hundreds of cases pro bono. He always believed that everyone should be able to have legal representation. He loved spending time in nature and was an avid hunter, fisher, and gardener. He believed in helping anyone who needed it and always wanted to make sure everyone else was taken care of. In recent years, his greatest joy was his grandson, Hunter. He loved following his music career in Nashville and hearing about his adventures and travels.
His presence will be greatly missed, and he will never be forgotten.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 4th, 2026, at Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News.
Burial will be private.
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I’m so sorry to hear about Mr. Corbett passing. I’ve been out of town a lot for the last two months and just went to call him to see how he was doing, but his phone was disconnected. 🙁 The last time I talked with him was in July because I was retiring and we had made a plan for me to come by for lunch. I will miss his phone calls because he always put a smile on my face. There was a time when he was taking care of things for my business that my husband and him would talk for a long time about the good old days on king street. When my husband passed, of cancer we always kept in touch with a phone call, or he would stop by my office just to say Hi. We always joked about that he was my granddad checking on me. Mr. Corbett will always have a special place in my heart. Rest in Peace.