Dr. Burns JonesDr. Burns Jones, a resident of Croasdaile Village with his wife, Marcia, is a prime example of A Life Reimagined.
Born in Alabama, he grew up in Beaufort, SC, where he developed an early love of history. Feeling a need, endemic to many Americans,
to serve a wider purpose, he postponed the pursuit of history for a medical career as a doctor in Public Health.
After internship, Burns served as a medical missionary in Alaska. This was followed by a career in public health in North Carolina. His last position was as Chief Medical Consultant
for the N.C. Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation.
After retirement, he and Marcia moved to Virginia, where Marcia worked as a teacher and school administrator. It was there that Burns earned a Masters Degree in history and pursued his interest in history. Burns has taught courses for Elder Hostel and Learning in Retirement. Returning to Raleigh, Burns taught at ENCORE (North Carolina State) and OLLI (Duke University)
When he and Marcia decided to move to Croasdaile Village seven years ago, his passion for history did not abate; in fact, he now lectures twice a month, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3 – 4 p.m. at Croasdaile Village where his lecture topics, past, present and future, are posted on the library door.
When he retired, Dr. Burns Jones packed away his stethoscope
to share his love of history with residents of Croasdaile Village.
What period of history does he favor? “I don’t have a favorite. Our classes are very eclectic,” he says. Most of the recent ones have been based on American history. Some of the topics? “We had several on American presidents… James Buchanan, John Quincy Adams…and on the Declaration of Independence, the framing of the Constitution, Notable Fakes and Frauds in History…”
An earlier lecture was on the history of wine. “Wine goes back to the very beginning of civilization,” he says, noting the biblical reference to Noah’s becoming drunk after the flood. His upcoming lecture Thursday afternoon was on the progressive era in the U.S. A future program will be on the French Huguenots, historical myths, and great historical trouble-makers.
Although Burns and Marcia Jones have lived in many places, he says “We have lived in North Carolina longer than in any other state.” Their three children and four grandchildren are also Tar Heels by choice: a son in Rocky Mount and two daughters, one in Raleigh and the other in Winston-Salem.
Dr. Burns Jones surely personifies what Solon, an Athenian sage, wrote fifteen hundred years ago. “I grow old ever learning many things.” And he is still learning.