George Burns

Obituary For George Burns

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 12:00 noon, New Faith Independent Church, 21850 MS 27, Utica, MS 39175 with burial in New Faith Independent Cemetery, 21850 MS 27S, Utica, MS 39175.

Family and community patriarch, devoted father, family member, and friend, George Burns, Sr. was born on December 2, 1939 in Hinds County to the late Ethel Crawford Callahan. He was primarily raised by his grandmother, the late Octavia Johnson Crawford; and uncle, the late B.C. Crawford. George was the oldest of eight children. Brother George Burns, Sr. accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of Mt. Zion CME Church. Later he joined New Faith Independent Church where he was a dedicated and active member until his health failed. George attended Mt. Zion Elementary School in Utica, MS. George was no stranger to hard work. He had several occupations including, Keys Construction, Utica Police Department, Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant, Burns’ Logging, Burns’ Café, Seals Septic Systems, and Hinds Community College where he retired as a Campus Police Officer. On August 12, 2019 at approximately 4:46 pm, at Baptist Medical Center, George Burns, Sr. answered the call of his heavenly father. He was proceeded in death by his first wife, Mae Bell Brown-Burns, a second wife, Ethel Fisher, his grandparents Octavia and George Crawford, a granddaughter, Marlana Johnson-Howard and grandson Robert Brown, Jr. He leaves his legacy to his beloved children to whom he dedicated his life to: three loving daughters, Laura (Robert) Brown of Utica MS, Margaret (James) Thomas, and Vertis Sims both of Jackson, MS, three loving sons, Ricky Burns of Arlington, TX, George (Vicki) Burns Jr., and Meredith Burns Sr., both of Utica, MS, two kids he raised and grew to love as his own, Roshunda (Donald) Brown and David Fisher, both of Utica, MS, five sisters, Maggie (Bernard) Taylor, Marie Johnson, Shirley (Kenneth) Broome, Mary (William) McWilliam, all of Utica, MS, and Juliena Drake of Jackson, MS, two brothers, Clifton (Lora) Callahan, of Jackson, MS, and Henry (Ethel) Callahan of Edwards, MS, two brothers-in-law, Sammie (Rosie) Brown of Como, MS, and Louis (Diane) Brown of Marrero, LA, two sisters-in-law, Helen Brown of Utica, MS, and Sallie Brown of Chicago, IL, 17 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, a special son-in-law, Robert Brown, great granddaughter, Maliyah Howard and friend, Annie Washington of Utica, MS, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.