William A. Burgess

William Alfred Burgess was born on September 12, 1920 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He was the first of eight children born to the late Robert and Louisa Cheek Burgess.His early childhood years were spent in North Carolina where he attended Spring Field Elementary School in Littleton, North Carolina.He accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age and was baptized at the Mount Olive Baptist Church under the late Rev. James Spruill. As a young man, William attended Sunday school and church regularly.William was united in Holy Matrimony to Arletha Harris in 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. God blessed this marriage for 62 years. Of this union, one son was born William L. Burgess.He was employed at the Dupont Company for 40 years where he was a dedicated, faithful and loyal employee. During World War II, while working at DuPont, he was drafted into the United States Navy. As part of his tenure in the Navy, William had an opportunity to tour Cuba. After receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1946, he returned to DuPont where he continued his employment until his retirement.When William moved to Baltimore he united with Zion Baptist Church, under the leadership of the founder, the late Rev. Matthew Wilkerson. He served on the Usher’s Ministry for many years. William loved his church and church family and often he spoke fondly of the Deacons and Deaconess who visited him while he was sick; particularly those visits from Pastor Prentice.William loved people. He was the neighborhood watchman, always looking out for his neighbors and their homes. Watching out for the children walking to and from school was one of his delights, particularly since the children walked past his home daily to get to school. Often giving them advice, disciplining and making many little friends along the way was a joy to him. He was very neighborly; he loved his neighbors and they loved him. William made numerous friends wherever he went and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew him.On November 6, 2004 William answered the call of the lord to leave this earthly tabernacle for his eternal home in Glory. He leaves to cherish the memory of his life; two loving children, William Burgess, and Regina Smith; four grandchildren; Taisha Burgess, Tiffany Minor, George Brown and Parris Brown; one great grandchild, Damon Young; one son-in-law, Gregory Smith; three brothers, Robert Burgess of Boston, Massachusetts; Moses Burgess of Stockton, California, and John Burgess who preceded him in death; three sisters, Mary Burgess, of Littleton, North Carolina; Polly Lynch of Wilmington, Delaware; Rachel Harville of Baltimore, MD; four brothers-in-law, Plummer Harris of Hollister, North Carolina; Rev. George Lynch, Wilmington, Delaware; five sisters-in-law, Norma Burgess of Stockton, California, Isabel Armstrong of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Ann Burgess of Boston, Massachusetts; Ruby Williams and Alice Harris of Hollister, North Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

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William A. Burgess

September 12, 1920 - November 6, 2004