James C. Burke, Jr., 77, of Wilmington, NC, passed away on February 16, 2021 at Lower Cape Fear Life Care. 

He was born May 20, 1943 in Langdale, AL and was reared in Lanett, AL. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, James C. Burke, Sr. and Lois Slaughter Burke, and sister, Margaret Burke Mosley. 

On May 15, 1971, he married Gail Elizabeth MacCallum who survives him.  

Also surviving are his son, Carl Burke of Roanoke Rapids, NC and Goddaughter, Dr. Elizabeth White-Hurst of Columbia, SC, and sister, Nancy Burke Brown of Steeleville, MO. 

He was a 1965 graduate of Mercer University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a 1968 graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity with Languages, Hebrew and Greek. He also held a Master of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Jim Served as Director of Christian Education and Minister of Youth at Rosemary Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids, then later taught Special Education in the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District.  He enjoyed a lifelong love of music and sang in the Rosemary Baptist choir and performed in productions at Lakeland Cultural Arts Center in Littleton, NC and sang with The Lakeland Singers.

Jim and Gail later joined All Saints Episcopal Church in Roanoke Rapids and enjoyed Willie Long’s Sunday School class. After retirement, they moved to Wilmington, NC and joined the Church of the Servant, Episcopal.  

Jim enjoyed helping Gail with her parish duties including the Bargain Box of Wilmington.  He also enjoyed many lunches with the Retired Old Fellows group. 

Jim’s remains will be interred in the Memorial Garden at Church of the Servant at a later date.  A memorial service will be held post-pandemic.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Lower Cape Fear Life Care Hospice, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401, or to the Pipe Organ Fund at Church of the Servant, Episcopal, 4925 Oriole Dr., Wilmington, NC 28403, or to the Little Free Pantry at All Saints Episcopal Church, 635 Hamilton St., Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.