James "Jimmy" Francis Kitson
Heaven gained an Angel on Friday, April 24th, 2026. James “Jimmy” Francis Kitson was 55 years young. He passed away at UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of genuine connection, mentorship, and a rare gift for making everyone around him feel seen and valued.
He was born in Long Island, New York, on March 18, 1971, to Robert and Patricia Kitson. Jimmy moved with his family to Pinehurst, North Carolina, the summer before his junior year of high school, attending Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines. Jimmy had a gift for friendship and a warmth that drew people to him naturally — in his senior year, he was voted most popular by his peers. After high school, he attended his dream school, NC State, where he was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and developed lifelong bonds with his Brothers. There was always a group chat going for every NC State sporting event. Go Pack!
Jimmy was a natural leader whose career reflected both his ambition and his people-first approach. He spent 15 years at Healthpoint/Smith & Nephew, a journey that took his family from North Carolina to Wisconsin and Texas, where he thrived in every role. The pull of family eventually brought him back to North Carolina, where he joined Align Technologies as Director of Sales and Development for the Americas. Of all his roles, Training and Development was the one Jimmy cherished most. He mentored hundreds of employees, took a genuine interest in each person, and made a lasting impact on their professional and personal lives, keeping up with them for years and celebrating their milestones long after they had moved on.
The most important thing in Jimmy’s life was always his family. He adored his wife of 26 years, Christy, and his children, Connor and Kelcie. He coached dozens of sports teams, and watching his children grow up was his greatest joy. Jimmy was humble in most things — except when it came to his kids. If you knew Jimmy, you knew everything about Connor and Kelcie. But his pride extended far beyond his own children. He took a genuine interest in all of his friends’ kids, streaming games from multiple colleges on a given Saturday to cheer them on, sending thoughtful texts about what they did well, attending their games, and, as they grew into coaches themselves, showing up to watch them lead. Jimmy was everyone’s biggest fan.
Regardless of what life threw his way, Jimmy met every challenge with unwavering positivity. That mental toughness carried him through a five-year health journey after being diagnosed with porocarcinoma, a rare skin cancer. Before surgery to remove the cancer in his skull, he chose a mantra: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13. He lived by those words every step of the way. True to his nature, he channeled that experience into helping others, authoring the best-selling book We Got This — Leadership Principles Learned and Reinforced Through a 12 Month Battle with Cancer. Even in the hospital, Jimmy chose gratitude over complaint, grateful for his amazing life, grateful his family was healthy, and moved to empathy whenever he saw sick children and their families nearby. He never complained.
Jimmy never met a stranger. He was on a first-name basis with everyone, from grocery store clerks to the staff at the local ice cream shop. He showed his love through his cooking, and his passion for it ran deep. It wasn’t unusual to find him smoking a brisket, filet, or pork butt on the Traeger for a weekday dinner. That passion grew into something bigger: Jimmy created Baldman Barbecue, complete with his own signature spice and rub, and it became a household name among friends. The slogan "Good Better Bald" started as something personal but took on a life of its own, becoming a rallying cry for those fighting cancer and undergoing chemo. Jimmy would send them hats and t-shirts.
His excitement for life was infectious. Whether he was planning the next family adventure, cheering for NC State, the Carolina Hurricanes, or Liverpool, or blasting the Zac Brown Band and Foo Fighters through every scan and operation, Jimmy was excited about life, and because he was, everyone around him was too. He made everything more fun just by being himself.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Christy Michelle Kitson; son Connor Kitson (23); and daughter Kelcie Kitson (18). His mother, Patricia Kitson of Pinehurst, NC; sister Suzanne Johnson of Pinehurst, and her husband Jamie Johnson and their children Erica and Aidan Johnson; brother Michael Kitson of New York, NY, and his husband Josh Kitson; and sister Mary Kitson of Pinehurst and her daughter Kitson O’Neal. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Martin Kitson of Pinehurst, NC. Along with a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at Prime Barbecue in Knightdale, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 2nd, at 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.