James Paul “Jim” McCauley

Mr. James Paul “Jim” McCauley, 84, died Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at his home in Oxford, MS. The Funeral Mass will be Monday, January 15, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Shoffner officiating. Inurnment will follow the service in the St. John Columbarium. A wake and reception will be held Sunday, January 14, 2024, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. in West Hall of Waller Funeral Home.

Jim was born on December 31, 1939, in Batesville, Indiana, as the only child to the late Margaret Higgins and Paul James McCauley. He played basketball throughout his high school years and in college. While attending Indiana University in Bloomington, he met his wife, Marge. After the two married, Jim joined the Air Force. While stationed on base in Roswell, New Mexico, he and Marge welcomed their first child, Jeff. By the time they were celebrating Jeff’s first birthday, the family had been stationed in Spain, where Jim worked in SAC Intelligence, creating flight plans for pilots. When he retired from the military, they moved to Columbus Indiana, where Jim worked in insurance, and he and Marge welcomed their second child, Michael. Jim joined the charitable organization the U.S. Jaycees Columbus Chapter. His diligent work with US Jaycees was quickly recognized and Jim was recruited to work for the national headquarters in Tulsa, OK, where he juggled many responsibilities, and had the honor of presenting an award to Elvis Presley. Despite his passion for his growing career, Jim managed to still be an ever-present husband and father, as he and Marge joyfully welcomed a third child, Jennifer.

In 1974, they moved to Memphis where Jim began his career as an Executive with Holiday Inn. He was instrumental in starting the Holiday Inn Priority Club, focusing on all the ways he could help improve the guest experience. The project he was most passionate about starting was Give Kids the World, a non-profit resort in Kissimmee, FL, that provides critically ill children with no-cost vacations to the most magical place on earth. Since its inception, Give Kids the World has welcomed over 188,000 families from all over the world, making it this project that Jim was most proud of. His work took him all over the world, traveling overseas as often as needed. He retired as President of International Association of Holiday Inn stationed in Atlanta, GA. Following his retirement, he and Marge followed Jennifer to Oxford, MS, where she was attending Ole Miss. Jim quickly got involved with his new community, becoming the President and Member of the Oxford-Lafayette Tourism Council, earning the Citizen of the Year Award for his many efforts and accomplishments. Jim somehow found free time to author a book, PinPoint, Inc, and often enjoyed fishing and golfing with friends. He continued his love for travel, but instead of being stuck in meetings, was free to enjoy each moment with his family. The favorite of these travels were their annual O.O.P.S. reunions in Olive Branch, MS, where they spent every Labor Day weekend for 45 years. Throughout his life, Jim managed to fill so many roles and accomplish many things, but nothing brought him greater happiness than being a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Jim is survived by his wife, Marge McCauley of Oxford, MS; daughter, Jennifer Burford and her husband, Nelson, of Germantown, TN; sons, Jeffery Price McCauley and his wife, Stacey, of Olive Branch, MS and Michael Scott McCauley and his wife, Monti, Memphis, TN; five grandchildren, Kirby McCauley, Jonathan McCauley, Colin McCauley, Riley Burford, and Madison Burford; two great-grandchildren, Cloe and Judah; his aunt, Rose Ann Vicars of Franklin, IN; and his uncle, Jim Higgins of Henderson, NV.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to our caregivers, Amanda Cuthrids, Stephanie Crumpton, Willie, Ezelle, and Heath of Enhabit Hospice, and Mary Jones and Chandler Hall of SeniorKare.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 403 University Avenue, Oxford, MS, or to Give Kids the World, 210 South Bass Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746.