Jim Burdine Funeral Homily

What does a masterpiece look like? Is it a piece of art? A well-written poem? The perfect dessert? Or might it be a long and beautiful life?

Today we gather to celebrate the life of James Calloway “Jim” Burdine, known lovingly by his grandchildren as “Do-Daddy.”

And Jim was certainly a man who knew how to do a lot of things, often without a lot of fanfare as he did not like a lot of fuss or having his picture taken. If your glasses were broken, Jim would fix them. If the dishwasher was out, he would repair it. If you had car trouble, he would take a look. If you needed something built, he would be ready. He had a mind that loved to tinker, to learn, to figure things out, to build, and to repair. After learning of all this, I am coining the phrase “Jim of all trades.”

Debbie recalled how he spent hours putting together her Barbie dream house when she was younger. Not only did she have the dream house, but when she was 5 or 6 he built her a life-size playhouse complete with kitchen cabinets that stood next to his workshop.

If there was a need for something to be built, he was willing- whether it be a chest for the nursery, a bookshelf for Baxter or a podium for Amory First Methodist.

If it was going to be done, it had to be done right, as Rob noted. Jim would check it and then check it again. If he didn’t know something, he would research it, with most of his skills being self-taught.

Debbie shared how she had gotten a new car a few years ago and was going to get her keys out one day and her dad looked at her and said “You know you don’t need your keys right? You just put your hand on the door and it’ll open.” She had had the car for 10 years, but leave it to Jim to have read the manual. Debbie’s husband ____ joked that more than once over the years he be working on something and find himself saying “where is Jim Burdine when you need him?”

I came across a poem recently that makes me think of Jim. It says

“His fingers can fix anything. Thick, callused hands grip the hammer And then every nail surrenders. His shed is home to miracles: He breathes life back into machines; He makes our old house young again.”

What does a masterpiece look like?

Jim loved to spend time in his workshop, and for the past several years was kept company there by Michael’s dog Davina. When Michael moved to California, Davina stayed with Jim and Loretta. Loretta said “Davina liked me, but she loved Jim.” Davina stayed out in Jim’s workshop, and every night she would wait for Jim to come out and say goodnight to her.

When Jim wasn’t building and fixing something, he was an avid airplane enthusiast. The whole family spoke of how much he loved going to the airshows to see the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels. He also loved to build and fly radio controlled airplanes with friends out in Merigold and Greenville. Jim passed on his passion for aviation to his eldest grandson Rob who is now a pilot.

Jim loved spending time with his family and delighted in his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed vacations from annual trips to the Smokies to long road trips exploring the East and West coast. As fun as those were, he also found meaning in being present for his family in the day-to-day stuff of life.

His son Michael shared how “The list is seemingly endless with things he would help with such as helping on science projects or helping with homework or helping me move to various places I’ve lived or basically helping to fix virtually anything that was broken. From the time I was a small child all the way to my adult life I could always count on dad to be there to support me. It also meant a lot to me that during my years playing sports he was always there for my practices and my games. He was an amazing person.”

But rest assured that wherever Jim went, Loretta was right there. From the moment they met working at Wilson Lumber company to when they got married a few months later in the pastor’s office at Amory First Methodist, they have stayed at one another’s side. Even during the last couple of weeks with Jim in the hospital, Loretta spent every night next to him in that uncomfortable hospital chair, just in case he were to need her during the night.

Debbie said that “Mom and dad were a team. What one did, the other would help and support. Not only were they together for 70 plus years, but they did everything together. Ate every meal together, went everywhere together, even to the grocery stores this past few months, even if dad sat in the car to wait for her.”

What does a masterpiece look like?

I knew Jim as a man who loved his wife (I am told he also had a love of the desserts she made), and who loved his church family. Every Sunday while here, he always went out of his way to speak, shake my hand, and offer a kind word. He was consistent and faithful.

In today’s passage, the author of Ephesians tells us that it is by grace through faith that we have been saved. Not by anything we have done. Not by any works of our hands. Not by our own boasting, but through the grace of God that we receive as a gift in faith.

But notice the last verse that says we are God’s masterpiece (NLT). The NIV says we are God’s handiwork. I especially like the Modern English translation which says “we are his workmanship.”

In listening to the life of Jim Burdine, I began to think about the work of his hands- of all the things they held and fixed and created and loved.

And all the while, all 90 years of building and hugging and praying and holding, God was building something wonderful in and through him. God’s own masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s own workmanship. And for what purpose? For good works in Christ Jesus?

As creatures of God created in God’s image, we are God’s masterpieces, design, handiwork, and craftsmanship. In and through each of us God builds a life that is meant to share in the beautiful works of God.

I am reminded of the song Build My Life which says:

“And I will build my life upon Your love It is a firm foundation And I will put my trust in You alone And I will not be shaken

Holy, there is no one like You There is none beside You Open up my eyes in wonder And show me who You are And fill me with Your heart And lead me in Your love to those around me.”

Thank you Jim, for the life you built on love, for the work of your hands, and for your witness to God’s heart.