Thomas L. Burgess

Thomas Tommy Burgess was born on March 14, 1956 at the Marine Corps Air Station base hospital in Cherry Point North Carolina as the second of four children to the late George Leonard Burgess and Annette Madline Henry Burgess-Fuld of Havelock, North Carolina. On the morning of Tuesday January 23, 2024 Tommy transitioned peacfully at the North Baltimore home in Maryland with his partner Damon Downing of almost 30 years and will be remembered for his love language of cooking for friends and loved ones and living life to the fullest. Tommy attended Annunciation Catholic school and Havelock High School in Havelock North Caroline and later went on to get a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Institutional Managment from East Carolina University in 1979 and a Master of Science from University of North Carloina at Greensboro in 1983. After graduating from UNC Greenboro Tom started his career working at a hospital as a Service manager and later a Nutritional Service manger in Atl anta, Georgia for 8 years. In 1991, Tommy moved to Washington DC where he worked at the Northern Virginia Training Center (NVTC) for more than 25 yeras in various clinical and adminstration capacties. Tom was a Registered Dietitian and began his NVT Career clinical support to a number of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His clinical and oranizational skills were soon recognized and he was promoted to Director of food Service Operations which provided daily meals to over 200 people who lived at NVYT not including the staff and eventually manged the downsizing and closure of NVTC in 2016 the year he retired from the Commonwealth of Virgina Department of Mental Health system. Tommy also did nutritional consulting for provide groups homes for people development disabilities and /or intellectual challenges in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia Tom is survived by his partner of almost of almost 30 years Damon Downing of Baltimore, Maryland sister Sharlene Birgess-Foley and husband Brian Foley of Havelock, NC, Sister in Law, Michelle Temple Burgess of New Bern, NC niece Bridgtte Burgess Bosmans of New Bern, NC great niece Katlin Chesney of Kenly NC great great neice Emaleigh Lassiter of Kenly NC, niece Shannon Marie Perlta Laverty of Booksville, FL great niece Brillana Browning of Cutler Bay, Fl and great niece Cecilia Rodriguez of Haymarket VA great neice MArk Browning and great neice Olivia Robin Browning of Cutler Bay FL former sister in law Diane Lambright Berry of New Bern NC Joyce M, Burgess of Greensville NC. Tommy is also survived by extended family of his partner Damon Downing to included his mother, Ruby Brown Stotler of Baltimore, Maryland ucle Kenneth Brown SR. of Baltimore Maryland, sister Tricia Downing and Fiance Donald Bovello of Glen Burnie, MD. sister Nicole Downing Cooke: husband Donald Cooke and son Jason Cooke of Baltimore, Maryland sister Goldie Downing Davis of Elkridge, Md sister Wendy Downing Talley husband Craig Jones daughter Tia lee Miles son Jacob Talley son Noah Talley son Cameron Bean Jones nephew of Lawrenceville, Georgia sister Mariah Morrisson husband Jameel Morrisson son Caleb Morrisson Daughhter Emory Morrisson dauhgter Josie Morrisson, Josie Morrisson of Chislehurst, New Jersey and nephew Robert Omar Johnson Baltimore Md Tommy was preceded in death by his parents George Leonard Burgess and Annette Madeline Henry Burgess Fuld his twin brother, infant Burgess and his older brother Timothy George Burgess of Havelock,North Carolina.

Tributes

Thomas L. Burgess

March 14, 1956 - January 23, 2024