James Larkin "Jimmy" Selman II

1934 - 2016

James Larkin "Jimmy" Selman, II, a lifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away unexpectedly early Thanksgiving morning, November 24, 2016, at Ochsner Medical Center from natural causes. He was born on June 24, 1934 in New Orleans. Jimmy attended Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in New Orleans and St. Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans in 1953. He attended the University of Notre Dame his freshman year of college, which he assured us was during one of the coldest winters in recorded history. Jimmy then returned to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, from which he earned both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees. He enjoyed a long and successful legal career with the firm of Jones Walker Waechter Poitevent Carrere & Denegre, LLP, retiring as a Senior Partner in 2004. In retirement, Jimmy worked as a mediator, while also improving his golf game with his golfing buddies Pepper Bright, Peter Menge, Tony Benjamin, Pat Brown, Senor Robert Martinez, Bo Ball and others, often referred to collectively as the "dream team" by the pro staff at the New Orleans Country Club. Jimmy and his wife Wilder traveled to Maine every August for over 20 years and developed many lasting friendships there. Jimmy was a gifted supporter of Tulane University athletics for decades, and regularly attended many exciting events at various venues on Tulane's campus, often cheering on players he was instrumental in recruiting to the Green Wave. He had a zest for life, and was noted for his deep, hearty laugh, great sense of humor and wide friendships in the New Orleans area and beyond. He enjoyed good health, and was still active and independent until the very end, including the regular lunch outing with his friends last week. Jimmy was married to Wilder Breckenridge Selman for 52 years before her passing in June, 2011. He was also predeceased by his parents. Jimmy is survived by his good friend Airey Ellis of Covington, his four children, James Larkin Selman, III of New Orleans, John Breckenridge Selman and wife Susan of Houston, Texas, Mary Wilder Lebourgeois of Covington, Louisiana, Sara St. John Lowrance of Athens, Georgia, and his brother Francis J. "Uncle Sonny" Selman, Jr., MD and wife, Lucy Schwab Selman, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Jimmy is also survived by six grandchildren: John B. Selman, II, Hannah M. Selman, Mary Wilder Claiborne Lebourgeois, Louis P. Lebourgeois, IV, Hughes W. Lowrance and Coleman Lowrance. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jimmy was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Louisiana Club, the Lakeshore Club, the Pickwick Club, the New Orleans Country Club, the Krewe of Rex and other clubs and carnival organizations in the New Orleans area. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 12 noon to celebrate Jimmy's life. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Private interment is scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made in Jimmy's memory to the Tulane Law School Scholarship Fund, Tulane University Athletic Department, The Bethesda Free Health Clinic, 6912 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 39564, and other local charities or organizations.