The lasting legacy of Jim Jacumin across Burke County

By BILL POTEAT

bill@thepaper.media

Take a stroll on the trail through the woods on the hill above East Burke High School’s football stadium and take a moment to look to the north.

Viewing the finely constructed stadium, with its soaring light towers, spacious press box, and concrete bleacher seating for 9,000 fans is looking at the legacy of Jim Jacumin.

Take a drive through Valdese and stop at the Trail of Faith, taking time to examine the outdoor exhibits which meticulously recreate life in Italy as it was experienced by Waldensians centuries ago. Here, too, the legacy of Jim Jacumin is on display.

Or, simply take the time to visit with literally scores of families from around Burke County — families who have been helped through rough spots and hard times by an anonymous benefactor. Again, this is the legacy of Jim Jacumin.

Jim, who until his recent illness had the energy of most men half his age, died Sunday at Amorem Hospice in Valdese. He had turned 89 just a couple of weeks ago.

His family will receive friends today (Saturday, Nov. 29) from noon to 2 p.m. at East Baptist Valdese Church with the funeral to follow.

His full obituary can be found on 7A.

Jim was an engineer, a businessman, a politician whose career spanned four decades, a community activist, a philanthropist. He was a man who expected results and who wanted things done his way.

While in his 30s, he served as chairman of the Burke County Commissioners. The youthful Jim was told he looked like pop singer Bobby Goldsboro and President Jimmy Carter.

Jim didn’t mind the comparisons to Goldsboro. A lifelong Republican, he was less than thrilled about being compared to the Democratic president.

Along the way, Jim also became a newspaper publisher — launching a weekly called the Unifour Independent to compete with both the Morganton News Herald and the Hickory Daily Record.

That venture didn’t work out nearly so well as his other business investments.

We could fill this entire newspaper recounting the stories of Jim being the ramrod in the construction of the East Burke stadium, of nurturing and bringing to full stature the Republican Party in Burke County, of building his company, JEMCO, into a multi-million dollar enterprise, of his strong Christian faith, and the many ways he put that faith into action.

Instead, we’re going to let some of those who knew Jim talk about what he meant to them and to the community he loved.

The Rev. Chip Stallings, senior pastor at East Valdese Baptist Church, only knew Jim for the last few years of his life, yet in that time he grew to respect and admire one of the oldest members of his flock.

“Jim was a man of conviction,” Chip recalled. “He based his life on his faith in God, his love of Jesus, and in following the Great Commission, to spread the gospel throughout the world.”

Jim was very generous, both in his support of the church, and in helping individual families who needed help, Chip said. Often the families who received his help never knew that he was their benefactor.

Asked how Jim handled his final illness and approaching death, Chip said, “Men have a tendency to die the way they’ve lived. Jim died with courage and with grace.”

On their last visit together at Amorem Hospice, Chip said he asked Jim what message he would give to his fellow church members. Jim’s reply, which the pastor had to strain to hear, was “Love… love each other.”

Morganton attorney Warren Daniel first met Jim when he was a youngster. Warren’s dad, Steve, was one of Jim’s partners in the launch of The Unifour Independent.

They reconnected decades later when Warren, a West Point and UNC Law School graduate, returned to Burke County to join his father’s law firm.

Warren was soon elected chairman of the Burke County Republican Party at the same time Jim was representing the county in the N.C. Senate. When Jim decided not to seek a fourth Senate term, he urged Warren to seek the seat instead.

“Jim took me all over the district, (Burke and Caldwell) introducing me to all of the people he felt I should get to know,” Warren said. “Over the past 15 years he has been a strong cheerleader, supporter, mentor, and friend for me and Lydia, and we always strove to fill his shoes as a legislator.”

“Jim’s legacy,” Warren continued, “will be one of generosity, uplifting and encouraging his friends and neighbors, and the many things he built for the community that will long outlast his life: the East Burke football stadium, the Trail of Faith, and Jacumin Park in Valdese to name a few.”

Beth Heile, the driving force behind the establishment of Valdese Lakeside Park and the ongoing development of the Burke River Trail, brings a different perspective of Jim, as she is part of the Jacumin Family.

Her mother, Patricia Zimmerman, was the daughter of Emanuel Jacumin, making Patricia and Jim first cousins.

“The thing that struck me about Jim was how important family was to him,” Beth said. “He was extremely proud of the Jacumin heritage, our Waldensian heritage, and he really wanted us to celebrate that.”

A Jacumin family reunion was held each summer at her Grandfather Emanuel’s farm, Beth said, and Jim thought it important that as many family members as possible participate in the celebration.

“Jim was in charge of the sound system, and he always came dressed in his three-piece suit,” Beth said. “He was such a good person. He was always supportive of me, and he always told me he was proud of me.”

Valdese has a new mayor, of course, as Keith Huffman was sworn into the post on Monday evening. Keith acknowledged that he did not know Jim, but he did know how important he was to Valdese and to Burke County.

“Mr. Jacumin did so much for Valdese and for preserving our Waldensian heritage,” Keith said. “The Trail of Faith and the Waldensian Museum owe their existence to him, his energy, and his support.”

To close on a personal note, Jim dropped by the office of The Paper on a spring afternoon not long after we first started publishing back in 2023.

He and I had butted heads on several issues back in the 1990s, when he was chairman of the county commissioners and I was the editor of The News Herald. Neither of us mentioned that friction.

Instead, I remember, as he sat down to talk with Publisher Allen VanNoppen and me, that his handshake was strong, his smile was winning, and his message was simple and clear.

“Keep it (The Paper’s editorial policy) in the middle,” he said. “Be fair to everyone. Don’t get involved in partisan politics.”

Message delivered, Jim regaled us with stories of growing up on a Burke County farm, of founding his own engineering company, of dealing with less than scrupulous Egyptian businessmen.

I remember thinking then, as I do today, that Jim Jacumin was indeed one of a kind.

He will be missed.

Bill Poteat is editor emeritus. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or bill@thepaper.media.