Most Worshipful James Edward Litten

James Edward Litten was born in New Market, Virginia, on April 17, 1940. He graduated from Mount Jackson High School in 1958 and later attended the American Disc Jockey School in Norfolk, Virginia. From 1962 to 1969, Brother Litten was employed in radio communication, working in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Texas. He owned and operated Community Broadcasting, Inc. in Stuart, Virginia, from 1969 until 1986. Since 1986, he has been in the real estate business; and from 1989 until the present, owns and operates Jim Litten Real Estate, LLC, as broker.

Brother Litten was made a Master Mason in Mountain Home Lodge No. 263 on September 25, 1987. He is a Life Member in Perpetuity and served as its Worshipful Master in 1992 and 2007 and as Secretary from 2011 to 2014. He was District Deputy Grand Master in Masonic District No. 39 in 2004. He was the Administrative Assistant to the Grand Master in 1997 and Grand Pursuivant in 2001. He served on the Grand Lodge Committee on Unfinished Business and is the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Ohio, near Virginia. He was elected Grand Senior Deacon in November 2011 and was installed as Grand Master on November 7, 2015.

Brother Litten is a Life Member in Perpetuity and Honorary member of Pound Lodge No. 59 and holds honorary membership in Piedmont Lodge No. 152 and Rocky Mount Lodge No. 201. He is a member of the Valley of Danville, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and was invested Knight Commander Court of Honour in 2003 and coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 2007. He is a member of Lynchburg Royal Arch Chapter No. 10, Kazim Shrine Center and Martinsville Chapter No. 66, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a recipient of the Outstanding Worshipful Master Award in 1992 - 93. Brother Litten is a recipient of the John Blair, Jr. Service Medal from the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 2001 and the Legion of Honor from the International Order of DeMolay. Brother Litten has been recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution with their Award of Excellence.

Brother Litten has also been very active in the community. Within Patrick County, he is a Past President of the Unit of the American Heart Association, Patrick County Jaycees, and Charter President of the Patrick County High School Band Boosters Club. He is a Life Member in the Virginia Jaycees and Past President of the Life Membership Council, a Jaycee International Senator, and United States Jaycee Ambassador. He has been recognized by the Stuart Rotary Club and Virginia Jaycees as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award and by Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Honorary Extension Fraternity, Virginia Tech, as a recipient of the Outstanding Public Service Award. He was recognized by the Board of Supervisors in 1977 and 1984 when the Board proclaimed "Jim Litten Day" in Patrick County. He is an honorary member of the Patrick County Agricultural Fair Association, Stuart Lions Club, the Stuart Rotary Club, and several fire departments and rescue squads. He is a former board member of the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, the R. J. Reynolds-Patrick County Memorial Hospital, and served on the Town of Stuart's Centennial Committee, and fundraising committees for the American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and Patrick County Public Library. He is an active member of Stuart Baptist Church, where he has served as Deacon and on the Pastor Search, Pulpit, Long Range Planning, and Apple Butter Committees.

Brother Litten is married to the former Ann Crocker of Smithfield, Virginia, and they have two daughters, Cynthia Holt and her husband, Roland; and Denise Stirewalt and her husband, Gene; four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.