By Brittany Muller
Hundreds gathered Saturday morning to attend a celebration of life for a beloved Atlantic Coast High School science teacher, who Jacksonville police said was strangled to death.
A man has been charged with second-degree murder after police found him driving the car of the Vivian James, who investigators said was found dead in her Westside home on Dec. 28. Zebulon Perkins, 27, was scheduled to appear in front of a judge Saturday, but he waived his first appearance.
Hundreds entered the performing arts center at Atlantic Coast High School to embrace the legacy that James left behind.
“She changed my life. I was definitely heading down the wrong path, most definitely, and she changed my whole life,” said Ako Williams, James’ student.
Williams said James mentored her while she was a student. That relationship continued on throughout the years. Williams last spoke with James two days before she died.
“She impacted a lot of kids – troubled kids. A lot of kids that were on the wrong path, she definitely changed them,” Williams said.
Her 20 year career impacted students, teachers and her community. She is described as a bubbly, dancing, passionate science teacher. Several students said she was more than just a teacher.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2020/01/11/life-of-slain-atlantic-coast-high-school-teacher-celebrated/