The Honorable Jack Burkett Weldy was a native of Hattiesburg and the son of Gabriel Burkett Weldy, Jr. and Mildred Caldwell Weldy. Jack graduated from Hattiesburg High School, and with honors from Mississippi Southern College (now USM) in 1956. He was inducted into the USM Hall of Fame, Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities, Omicron Delta Kappa, and was regimental commander for his ROTC Unit and the recipient of his graduating class citizenship award.

While at USM he met his bride, Peggy Anderson, and they began building their life and family together. After graduation he entered active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Army, serving his country in West Germany as firing platoon commander for a Corporal Missile Unit.

Upon completing active duty in 1958, he accepted a scholarship to Tulane University School of Law and graduated in 1961. Upon receiving his law degree, Jack was employed by Chevron Oil Company as a staff attorney and landman. In 1962, he began the private practice of law in his hometown. He practiced law in Hattiesburg for over half a century. During that time, he was twice elected Circuit Judge for the 12th District serving Forrest and Perry counties and served from 1975 until 1983.

In 1990 Judge Weldy was honored with an appointment as Senior Magistrate with the Mississippi Supreme Court and served until 1995. As judge he served two terms as Chairman of the Mississippi Circuit Court Judges Association and was the Mississippi Circuit Court Judges Nominee to the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. He was a faculty member of the Mississippi Judicial College, the Mississippi State Bar Commission on Continuing Legal Education and the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Jack also served on the Joint Committee of Mississippi State and Federal Trial Judges and was a drafter of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, the Mississippi Uniform Criminal Rules of Circuit Court Practice and the Rules of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance.

He was a member of the South Central Mississippi Bar Association, the Mississippi State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Louisiana State Bar Association. Jack was active in professional legal organizations such as the Judicature Society, the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Jack spent time with his daughters as they participated in horse shows and he cheered on all his children and grandchildren in their various sports and academic endeavors. He raised and trained his beloved Brittany Spaniels for field trials and quail hunting, often taking his children and grandchildren on these adventures. He provided outdoor properties for his family to explore and enjoy. His children and grandchildren have rich memories of time spent at the farms near Sumrall, on Black Creek, and at their home and family gathering place overlooking Big Bay Lake.

He was preceded in death by his son Mark Elliot Weldy and sister Dorothy Weldy Dearman. He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Peggy Anderson Weldy, son Jack Burkett Weldy, Jr. (Susan), daughter Mary Beth Weldy Kruger (Baxter), daughter-in-law Gail Davis Weldy, daughter Amelia Anderson Weldy Craig (Dwayne), and son Michael Lamar Weldy (Leslie). He was a proud grandfather to ten grandchildren and Greatdaddy to six great-grandchildren.

*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.

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