Mr. Gene E. Burgess

Gene Eldon “Ed” Burgess, 83, passed away December 19, 2016. He was married to his wife, Betty June Wood Burgess, for 65 years, and together they raised five loving daughters. Ed was a life-long resident of Alpharetta, where he devoted his life to family and bettering the community through his work. He was the co-owner of the well-respected and trusted Burgess Electric Company for 40 years with his brother, the late Bob Burgess. He was a member of Brookwood Baptist Church in Cumming and the Alpharetta Lion’s Club. Ed and Betty loved to travel and spend time with their “girls”, grandchildren and great-grandchilden. An outdoorsman by nature, he loved to trout fish in Sarahs Creek in Clayton County, and often went deep-sea fishing in Steinhatchee and Panacea, Fl., and Dauphin Island, Al., with his brother, Bob, and Burgess Electric employees. He also enjoyed deer hunting with his late son-in-law Dennis Jones. Ed learned carpentry as a hobby to build furniture as gifts for his children. Ed also spent time developing real estate. Along with his brother and Randall Porter of Canton, he built several homes in the Alpharetta area. Ed, Bob, and the late Allen (Doc) Myers also developed a subdivision and built homes in Carmi, Il. What he will be remembered for most is being a devoted and loving husband, a dependable and strong “Daddy”, and a kind and unfailing “Granddaddy”. He truly was a great from the greatest generation and will be terribly missed by all who had the honor of loving him and being loved by him. Survived by his wife Betty June Wood Burgess of Alpharetta, and his children Shelia (Ken) Reece of Alpharetta; Cindy Jones of Cumming, Ga.; Carolyn Kimbrell of Cumming; and, Valerie Smith of Atlanta; and, grandchildren Terri (John) Kempey of Alpharetta; Brian Reece and Missy Kline of Canton, Ga.; Jennifer (Kevin) Martin of Cumming; Cristin (John) Kirbo of Albany, Ga.; Jessica (Matt) Biter of Atlanta, Joe (Kristine) Kimbrell of Canton; Meredith (Matt) Sargent of Atlanta; and, great-grandchildren Preston and Lauren Kempey; Lily Reece; Hunter and Emerson Martin; Helen Kirbo; Bradley and Barnes Biter; and Callahan Kimbrell. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Virginia Kendall Burgess of Alpharetta, as well as loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Elzy LaFayette Burgess and Rebecca Grace Bagwell Burgess of Forsyth County, Ga.; his brother Robert Trenton (Bob) Burgess of Alpharetta, and his daughter Pamela Rebecca Burgess of Austin, Texas. Funeral will be held at 2 p.m., December 21, at Northside Chapel, in Roswell, Ga., with graveside services immediately following at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell. Visitation for friends will be held at Northside from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Tuesday, December 20. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association.

Mr. Gene E. Burgess

April 27, 1933 - December 19, 2016