PALESTINE — James E. Wilkerson, M.D., known as an upbeat, compassionate local cardiologist whose catch phrase when asked about his day was “beautiful day in paradise,” passed away Monday after a battle with cancer.

“He truly cared about his patients and was always pleasant,” said Andrea Sims, R.N., cardiac rehab supervisor at Palestine Regional Medical Center, who worked with Wilkerson for several years in both the ER and cardiac cath lab. “His catch phrase was ‘beautiful day in paradise’ — that gives you an idea of his personality.

“He was very well liked in the community and throughout the medical community,” she continued. “He was such a good witness for Christ. He always made it a point to be a witness for Christ.”

Nancy Nash of Tennessee Colony, and her husband Joe, were both former heart patients of Wilkerson.

“He was a super doctor who was truly caring. He made me feel confident that everything would be okay,” Nash said. “He had a way of setting your mind at ease. You could look in his eyes and feel his concern.”

Neurologist Russell Packard, M.D. said Wilkerson was known for his positive attitude.

“He was a very compassionate physician and wonderfully positive,” Packard said. “Even though he was sick the last few months, his attitude was still positive. When you asked how he was doing he would always respond ‘beautiful day in paradise.’

“I enjoyed being his colleague,” Packard continued.

Fellow cardiologist Robert McFarlane, M.D. said Wilkerson will be greatly missed.

“Jim was a wonderful colleague. He was generous in helping with my patients when needed or covering my patients,” McFarlane said. “Once he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he faced it with a great amount of dignity. I believe his religion was a big part of that.”

Palestine Regional Medical Center CEO Tim Flusche expressed his sentiments on the medical community’s loss.

“Dr. Wilkerson was on our medical staff for 10 years, serving as our Chief of Staff this year. He will be greatly missed by our patients, employees and medical staff,” Flusche said.

Dr. Wilkerson was born and reared in Kingsville. He graduated with highest honors from H.M. King High School in Kingsville in 1963 and received numerous track and field medals from 1961 to 1963.

He then attended Rice University in Houston on a track and field scholarship. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Rice University.

While at Rice University in 1965, he ran on a relay team that set a world’s record in the 120 yard Shuttle Hurdle and was the Southwest Conference champion. He also competed at the USTFF 110 meter Hurdles National Championship Finals in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1967.

After graduating from Rice University, Dr. Wilkerson attended the University of Oregon, in Eugene, Ore., on an NDEA Title IV Graduate fellowship. While at the University of Oregon, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education with a minor in Biology.

He also was awarded a Master of Science degree in biology with a minor in biochemistry, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in human performance with a minor in computer science.

Upon graduation with his doctorate degree, Dr. Wilkerson spent five years at the Institute of Environmental Stress at the University of California at Santa Barbara doing post-doctoral research in the fields of exercise and environmental physiology.

He was awarded fellowship grants from the Santa Barbara chapter of the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health and other agencies. At the Institute of Environmental Stress, Dr. Wilkerson served as the director of the Nuclear and Analytical Chemistry Laboratories and was an assistant research professor with the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Dr. Wilkerson then became the director of the Exercise Physiology Laboratories at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. With academic appointments in the Department of Physical Education (School of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) and the Department of Physiology (School of Medicine), Wilkerson continued to teach, perform both basic and applied research and to mentor graduate students at the Master’s and Doctoral level. He had 25 doctoral students to complete their programs under his direction.

Dr. Wilkerson published more than 75 articles and abstracts in refereed scientific and clinical journals. He was a visiting professor at The Johns Hopkins University in the School of Public Health. He was a visiting professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Kuwait, and in Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.

He also did a sabbatical leave with the Orbiting Astrophysical Observatory Corp. at the Brooks School of Aerospace Medicine on Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Subsequently, at age 40, he entered The School of Medicine of the University of Miami, in Miami, Fla. He finished medical school in two years. He then did a three-year residency in internal medicine and then a three-year fellowship in cardiovascular disease with the University of Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Miami.

After completing his post-graduate medical education, he entered into private practice as an invasive, non-interventional cardiologist with the Valley Diagnostic Clinic in Harlingen. He served as the president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Valley Diagnostic Clinic for four of the five years he worked there.

In 1998, Dr. Wilkerson and his family came to Palestine to begin working with the East Texas Physician Alliance as an invasive, non-interventional cardiologist. He was a partner in the newly opened Magnolia Medical Plaza in Palestine where he served the cardiology needs of the people of Palestine, Anderson County and East Texas.

Services for Wilkerson will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Southside Baptist Church with Dr. Stephen Holcombe officiating. Burial will follow at Land of Memory Cemetery under the direction of Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home.

Dr. Wilkerson is survived by his wife, Mickie Wilkerson; three sons, Zachary Casares-Wilkerson, Cody Casares-Wilkerson and Thomas Wilkerson, all of Palestine; two daughters, Michelle Kathryn Miller and husband Jay of Greenwood, Ind., and Noelani Wilkerson of Palestine; and five grandchildren of Greenwood, Ind.