TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Dec 6, 2021

Shelbyville lawyer James “Jim” Cannon Burns Jr. died Dec. 1 at the age of 100. Originally from McKenzie, Burns attended Vanderbilt University and served in World War II for three and a half years before earning a law degree in 1948 from Vanderbilt University Law School. He opened his first law practice in Shelbyville and served that community until being recalled to active duty during the Korean War as an electronics engineer. Following the war, Burns practiced law in Memphis for three years but returned to Shelbyville in 1955 and practiced law there until moving to Florida in 1998. He died at the Penney Retirement Community outside of Jacksonville, Florida. A celebration of life service was held today in Florida. Memorial donations may be made to Penney Retirement Community, 3495 Hoffman St., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.