Mardi Gras: My Uncle, the Reverend Weston J. Burnside, Jr.

Reverend Weston J. Burnside, Jr.

I am a big Harley-Davidson fan, I do our local chapter HOG Ride Events and I like stopping by on a Saturday and have a grilled burger, brat or hot dog with the gang. As much fun as it is, there is a potential danger I am fully aware of. But that is so with life in general. we can fall getting out of bed in the morning and hurt ourselves, we can drive to or from work and be involved in an accident, that may or may not kill us - such as the accident I was in this past week. Danger is all around us, but it does not keep us from living. God wants us to have joy, experience life and yet be responsible as we are His.

As I continue riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, I do wear DOT regulated helmets and protective gear. No matter how I try to be safe, there is still a possibility an accident could occur, but I rather focus my thoughts on the joy of the open road and trust this: I pray for God's eye to watch over me and His hands to cover me - and He has. But this is not always the case, so let me share with you this...Continue to read through?

A 47-year-old Slidell man was killed Saturday morning when his motorcycle crashed into a pickup that failed to yield as it pulled onto Gause Boulevard, authorities said.

Weston J. Burnside Jr. was pronounced dead on the scene, and the driver of the truck, William D. Gunnels, was booked on several charges after the 7:10 a.m. crash, Slidell Police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said.

Burnside was riding a Suzuki motorcycle east in the right lane when Gunnels pulled his Nissan Frontier out of a parking lot in the 1900 block of Gause Blvd., Foltz said. Gunnels did not initially see the motorcycle and, when he did, he tried to stop the truck, the spokesman said.

Burnside lay the motorcycle on its side in an attempt to stop, and was thrown off of it in the process, Foltz said. Burnside struck his head on the truck's bumper and was killed instantly, he said.

Burnside was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, he said.

Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash, Foltz said.

Gunnels, 70, (I removed his address), Slidell, was booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail in Covington with failure to yield and negligent homicide.

OBITUARIES

Weston Jennings Burnside Jr.
August 19, 1961 - October 4, 2008


	James F. Webb Funeral Home 2514 7th Street Meridian, MS 39301 Map to Funeral Home

	James F. Webb Funeral Home 2514 7th Street Meridian , MS 39301 10/21/2008 at 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Map to Visitation Location

	Chapel James F. Webb Funeral Home 2514 7th Street Meridian , MS 39301 10/22/2008 at 10:00 a.m. Map to Service Location

Services for the Reverend Weston J. Burnside, Jr. will be held at James F. Webb Funeral Home, in Meridian, MS, with the Reverend James A. Ruffin officiating the services. Services will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at Webb's Funeral Home Chapel, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, on Old Hwy 80. Reverend Burnside died from injuries he sustained in an accident, in Slidell, LA, on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

Reverend Weston J. Burnside Jr., 47 was a Meridian native, where he attended Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church. he was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout with the Choctaw Area Council. He was a graduate from Meridian High School, class of 1979.

He was Licensed: in 1994 and ordained: in 1995 from Russell Baptist Church. He held a Master of Divinity, in Pastoral Ministries/Evangalism from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and studying for his Doctorate in Divinity. He held a Bachelor of Arts, in Pastoral Ministries,Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Undergraduate College.

He served as Pastor at Center Grove Baptist Church, in Meridian, He served as Minister of Music at Arrowood Baptist Church, in Meridian. He worked for Harper's Hospice Care, in Meridian. He was a Senior Pastor at Pikes Park Peak Baptist Church in Colorodo Springs, CO. He was Senior Pastor at Oak Street Baptist Church, In Kingham, AZ. Also he was the Musical Worship Leader at College Park Southern Baptist Church, Kingam AZ.

He taught seminary in Quitman, MS, and worked at First Baptist Church in New Orleans. He taught English at Kingman Unified School District #20 and sophomore English at Mohave Community College in Kingman, AZ. At the time of his death he was teaching at First Baptist Christian School in Slidell, LA, after moving there July 2008.

HE was a singer/songwriter of Christian music. He worked at Peavey Melody Music and taught privat lessons. he worked with Larry Pinkham, owner of Rocky Ridge Recording Studio, in Collinsville, MS. He worked with Lon Abbot, owner of Taylor D Ranch and Recording studios in Kingam, AZ.

Visitation will be Tuesday, October 21, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

We were not able to view Weston's body, it was a closed casket.

He is with The Lord whom he served so well.

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Weston was my maternal uncle. He left behind two sons, ages five and seven years old. He loved life and The Lord. He loved his family and friends. Things happen and sometimes they just cannot be avoided. The one thing my Mom did was call Mr. Gunnels, the next day, after he was released from jail. She told him, if Weston were sitting here, next to me, he would be the first to say:

'Brother, I forgive you. Now, forgive yourself.'

To forgive is to be forgiven.

Mr. Gunnels was overcome with grief, and was so burdened by what he saw after getting out of his truck. Others, who stopped, tried to stop him from going around the front of his truck, but he had to see. I understand that, because I am that way. So, my Grandmother sent several photos of Weston and many CD's of Weston's music and songs, so Mr. Gunnels would not see Weston in the condition he was, but as we remembered him. Our family asked the District Attorney not to prosecute Mr. Gunnels, for it was an accident, and he had a clean record and retired from the U.S. Navy. What purpose would it have served a man of 70 years old? He and my Grandmother still talk on the phone occasionally. When people go through a life changing event, it will either unite them or split them. It has helped my Grandmother to be able to forgive, too.

Some ask me how I can ride a motorcycle knowing what I know? I do not know what my future holds or this moment, but I know God is with me at all times. I know, too, when He calls us home, it will be in His time - not my time. I just have to live and be prepared for that time - drive safe, play safe, be safe.

"Sweet Hour of Prayer" was one of Weston's favorite hymns. This is Weston playing at the studio. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Sweet Hour of Prayer