Jim lived life to the fullest. He died in 1968, in New Orleans, when his motorcycle met an 18-wheeler. He died instantly.
edit: You're right, He did die in St Thomas.
Jim and I kept in touch between 1966 - 1967, while I was at Ole Miss, and he lived in a carriage house in Memphis. He would often go to St Thomas, where he began operating a tourist train business (details of that were always kinda murky), until his untimely death. Stanley Sherman, who was in New Orleans at the time, called me to say Jim had died. I think Jim had a premonition of his own death, because he always said he wanted to be buried at the Crossroads in Clarksdale, MS.
I guess Ruleville is close enough. Jim loved life.
Jim Burdine DID NOT die in N. O. It was in the Caribbean. Allen Butler Edwards and Steve Edwards may know more details...true details. It seems not to have been pretty. Jim was my friend from very early childhood until shortly before his death. His mother Jane Rule of Ruleville and my mother Grace Coleman were also childhood friends and remained close into adulthood. Jim was one of the most highly intelligent persons in our class. I have a photo of him in a cowboy outfit and me in a cowgirl outfit...we were 5 years old! Lord, I'd love to see him again and hear more of his tall tales!
I found Jim Burdine's Obituary. He died on St Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1968.
Greenville Delta Democrat Times (Newspaper) - November 18, 1968, Greenville, Mississippi 12 Monday, Nov. 18 '68 Delta Democrat-Times Greenville, Mississippi Obituaries 14 die in Mississippi accidents James Burdine Funeral services for James Rule Burdine, 27, son of Mrs. J. H. Burdine of Greenville, were to be held at 2 p.m. today at the St. James Episcopal Church with Rev. Reynolds Cheney officiating. Burial was to be in the Ruleville Cemetery with Wells Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Burdine, who had been in the tourist business in the Virgin Islands, died at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Knud-Hanson Memorial Hospital on St. Thomas Island in the Virgin Islands from injuries received in a motorcycle accident there Wednesday. Survivors include his mother; a sister, Jane Rule Burdine of Greenville; and three brothers, Frank William Burdine, James Harold Burdine and George Scott Burdine, all of Greenville. Pallbearers were to be Glenn Carter, Glenn Poole, Tommy Barnes HI, Victor Smith Jr., Stanley Sherman, John Archer, Bobby Maxwell, Frank Rule Jr., Wade HolloweH, Paul Kossman, Sen. James Eastland, Jack Ellison, Keith McFarland, Ron Burson and Doug Wynn.
I of course knew JIm from GHS, and my wife Ann met him when he was briefly enrolled at Millsaps. After Jim left Millsaps, I believe Spring of '63, we did not hear anything from/about him until the summer of 1968 when he showed up at Ann's parent's home in Puerto Rico where they had retired. At that time Jim was apparently drifting around the Carribbean looking for an opportunity.
The story I have heard, but cannot vouch for, is that JIm ended up on Grand Cayman where he was talking up the construction of a light rail transportation system.
There was a rumor that his "accident" was arranged by local taxi drivers who feard the loss of their jobs. Why his obit was published in St. Thomas, I do not know.
Harold Holiman
Jim was a great friend and will always be remembered. We had many great times together.Harold
David (Carroll) Ready
Jim lived life to the fullest. He died in 1968, in
New Orleans, when his motorcycle met an 18-wheeler. He died instantly.edit: You're right, He did die in St Thomas.
Jim and I kept in touch between 1966 - 1967, while I was at Ole Miss, and he lived in a carriage house in Memphis. He would often go to St Thomas, where he began operating a tourist train business (details of that were always kinda murky), until his untimely death. Stanley Sherman, who was in New Orleans at the time, called me to say Jim had died. I think Jim had a premonition of his own death, because he always said he wanted to be buried at the Crossroads in Clarksdale, MS.
I guess Ruleville is close enough. Jim loved life.
Penny Moss
II Did KnowJiM Died In New OrleansTommy Murphree
I enjoy being a guest member of your class.
I am pretty sure Jim did not die in New Orleans. I think he died on am inland in the Carribean
Tommy Murphree.
Grace Estes (Henderson)
Jim Burdine DID NOT die in N. O. It was in the Caribbean. Allen Butler Edwards and Steve Edwards may know more details...true details. It seems not to have been pretty. Jim was my friend from very early childhood until shortly before his death. His mother Jane Rule of Ruleville and my mother Grace Coleman were also childhood friends and remained close into adulthood. Jim was one of the most highly intelligent persons in our class. I have a photo of him in a cowboy outfit and me in a cowgirl outfit...we were 5 years old! Lord, I'd love to see him again and hear more of his tall tales!
Marie Cousley (Dugan)
I found Jim Burdine's Obituary. He died on St Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1968.
Greenville Delta Democrat Times (Newspaper) - November 18, 1968, Greenville, Mississippi 12 Monday, Nov. 18 '68 Delta Democrat-Times Greenville, Mississippi Obituaries 14 die in Mississippi accidents James Burdine Funeral services for James Rule Burdine, 27, son of Mrs. J. H. Burdine of Greenville, were to be held at 2 p.m. today at the St. James Episcopal Church with Rev. Reynolds Cheney officiating. Burial was to be in the Ruleville Cemetery with Wells Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Burdine, who had been in the tourist business in the Virgin Islands, died at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Knud-Hanson Memorial Hospital on St. Thomas Island in the Virgin Islands from injuries received in a motorcycle accident there Wednesday. Survivors include his mother; a sister, Jane Rule Burdine of Greenville; and three brothers, Frank William Burdine, James Harold Burdine and George Scott Burdine, all of Greenville. Pallbearers were to be Glenn Carter, Glenn Poole, Tommy Barnes HI, Victor Smith Jr., Stanley Sherman, John Archer, Bobby Maxwell, Frank Rule Jr., Wade HolloweH, Paul Kossman, Sen. James Eastland, Jack Ellison, Keith McFarland, Ron Burson and Doug Wynn.
Jeffey Homes
I of course knew JIm from GHS, and my wife Ann met him when he was briefly enrolled at Millsaps. After Jim left Millsaps, I believe Spring of '63, we did not hear anything from/about him until the summer of 1968 when he showed up at Ann's parent's home in Puerto Rico where they had retired. At that time Jim was apparently drifting around the Carribbean looking for an opportunity.
The story I have heard, but cannot vouch for, is that JIm ended up on Grand Cayman where he was talking up the construction of a light rail transportation system.
There was a rumor that his "accident" was arranged by local taxi drivers who feard the loss of their jobs. Why his obit was published in St. Thomas, I do not know.
Jeffey Homes
Here's the newspaper article from St Thomas
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=757&dat=19681118&id=gHVaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4kYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4150,1028752