Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home Effingham Chapel
(912) 754-6421 Phone Number & (912) 754-3426 Fax
Mr. D. Guerry Burns
Clyo - Mr. David Guerry Burns, 94, died Sunday afternoon, October 2, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family and caregivers. Mr. Burns worked in the timber industry for over 80 years. He was blessed to serve his fellow man as a member of Mizpah United Methodist Church, board member of the Effingham County School System, member of the Effingham County Board of Commissioners, and director on the Board of the Citizens and Southern National Bank. Mr. Burns joined Mizpah Church on February 13, 1949. He was honored by the Georgia State Patrol as an honorary member and received the Effingham County Treutlen Award for his years of community service. He was active in the Masonic Lodge for over 70 years as well as the Screven County Shriners Club. He owned and operated D.G. Burns & Sons, Inc., Burns Commissary and a sawmill in the Mizpah community. Mr. Burns was an Effingham County Chamber of Commerce Member of Distinction since the chamber's inception. He attended Mizpah and Clyo Schools and drove the school bus at age 12.
Mr. Burns was preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Avis Evans Burns, who passed away in 1989. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Lester and Lillie Coursey Burns, his brother, Lester Lamar Burns, and his sister, Georgia Burns Smith. Mr. Burns is survived by sons, Joe and Jeannette Burns, Jerry and Sandra Burns, and Jon and Dayle Burns; six grandchildren, Gena and David Kicklighter, Dave and Erica Burns, Jody and Ashley Burns, Jon Guerry and Ginny Burns, Wilson and Suzie Burns, and Brooke and Travis Graham; great-grandchildren, Jessi, Jeremy, Jordyn, Griffin, Gracyn, Evan, Jonah, Jon David, Ava and Elizabeth.
Visitation was held on Monday evening at Strickland Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 4, at four o'clock in the afternoon at Mizpah United Methodist Church. The Reverend Jose Velasquez will officiate at the service and burial. Pallbearers will be Dave Burns, Jody Burns, Jon Guerry Burns, Wilson Burns, Jerry Scott and Scott Miller.
Family members have requested that any remembrances be made as memorials to Mizpah United Methodist Church, 122 Mizpah Road, Clyo, Georgia 31303.
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home
Effingham Chapel
(912) 754-6421