James Miles Sylvester II

James Miles Sylvester II of Denham Springs, Louisiana, lived life on his own terms until his death on May 21, 2026. He was 73.

Jim left behind family and friends awed by his height, humor, and heart, all of which could fill a room. He honed an oversized sense of humor through a life of following Marx Brothers films and Looney Tunes cartoons. As a physician he worked on difficult cases, treating people who needed medical care the most but for whom it was often least available. He was the proud father of two amazing daughters.

He was born July 23, 1952, to Barbara and Don Sylvester of Springfield, Missouri, named after his paternal grandfather, and cradled in the love of a close extended family on his mother’s side. Don and Barbara hosted many parties for family and friends in the backyard pool on Jefferson Avenue, and Jim formed a lifelong love of swimming.

Jim was loved by many, and he also found comfort in reading, learning, and seeking knowledge. Jim excelled at self-instruction.

After seeing the movie “Bonnie & Clyde,” he became enthralled with the song “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” by Earl Scruggs. Jim found a book and taught himself how to play the song on a five-string banjo he found in the newspaper classifieds. He played trumpet at Parkview High School and would later entertain audiences with his guitar and comedy on Royal Caribbean cruises. He taught himself horsemanship, also from a book, and rode as part of the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse in the 2001 Tournament of Roses Parade. He loved animals, always having a dog, cat, or both, at home.

Jim earned a college degree in finance. But gifted with a booming bass voice like his father, he worked as a disc jockey. While working at KFRU in Columbia, Missouri, he met Don Lindbergh, who was using AI to teach medical students in the 1980s. Don recognized Jim’s intelligence and wrote Jim’s letter of recommendation to medical school.

Jim graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1993, after welcoming his two daughters, Jennifer and Janelle. His daughters were a source of immense pride for him.

His daughters emulated their father’s love of horses, competing in equestrian events. His quirky personality carried over into fatherhood. He would wake up early each morning to make Janelle a pot of coffee — when she was ten years old. Like their father, both ended up with a love of science: Jennifer serves as the Director of Geographic Information for the Texas Department of Transportation; Janelle, who is based in South America, holds a PhD and works in the restoration and conservation of tropical rainforests.

After completing the first of two fellowships in nuclear medicine, Jim moved to Baton Rouge in 1993 to work for Nuclear Medicine Associates. He later spent five years practicing at the Louisiana State Prison in Angola, treating patients on death row and the Camp J disciplinary unit. Licensed to practice medicine in five states, Jim traveled to emergency departments in rural areas of Louisiana and Southern Mississippi treating underserved populations.

Jim treated patients via telemedicine until the day before he entered the hospital in Baton Rouge in March 2026.

Jim married Jan on June 18, 2005, at Mount Hope. They traveled the world together, and her family became a source of his happiness for the rest of his life. She was at his side during his final stay in the hospital. They attended the First Baptist Church of Denham Springs.

He is survived by wife Jan Sylvester of Denham Springs, Louisiana; daughters Jennifer Lash (Sam) of Austin, Texas, and Janelle Sylvester (Luis Hernando Villa Avila) of Cali, Colombia; step daughters Megan Dickey (Michael) of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Lindsay Perkins (Tyler) of Denham Springs; a brother, Ron Sylvester (Gaye Tibbets), of Spokane, Washington, former wife and their daughter’s mother Judith Sylvester of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; grandchildren Weston and Lucinda of Austin, along with Camille Gustafson of Panama City, Florida, and Paisley Perkins and Sutton Perkins, both of Denham Springs, He is also survived by a nephew, niece and extended family and friends.

Visitation is set from noon to 2 p.m. on June 13, 2026, followed by a memorial service at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs.