Funeral Services for  J.P. Burns, Jr, age 84, of Picayune, MS, who passed away Tuesday, September 17, 2019, will be held Saturday, September 21, 2019, at 3:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Picayune.

Visitation will be Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Picayune.

Burial will be in New Palestine Cemetery under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

Rev. R.T. Buckley will officiate the service.

A native of Picayune, MS, he served with the Army National Guard for  41 years. J.P. was a graduate of Mississippi State, with a degree in Management Engineering. He retired from Bell Aerospace as an Industrial Engineer. J.P. was a former Picayune City Manager from 2001 until 2004. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Picayune, where he served as an usher.  J.P. was an active Gideon for 12 years, and an active member of the Lion’s Club for 20 years. He was an election commissioner for the City of Picayune, and a Poll Worker for Pearl River County. J.P. presently served as a commissioner for the Picayune Housing Authority for 4 years. He was Picayune Citizen of the Year for the year  2018. J.P. rarely missed a Chamber Meeting, City Council Meeting, Picayune School Board Meeting, and Ribbon Cuttings for the Chamber.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Prentiss Burns, Sr. and Allie Mae Bates Burns; the love of his life for 57 years, Sue Burns; his brother, Bobby Ray Burns; and his sister, Dorothy Penton.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted daughter, Debbie Russell and husband Aaron; his loving and devoted granddaughter, Briana Russell Pickett; his great granddaughter, Piper Sue Pickett; and his sisters, Juanita Coulter and Brenda Burns.

Obituary, Register Book, and Driving Directions can be found on the internet page, at www.mcdonaldfh.com

Contributions may be made to the Sue Smith Burns Memorial Scholarship Fund at First Baptist Church of Picayune, P.O. Box 477, Picayune, MS.