Howard Michael Burgess
Holman-Headland Mortuary & CremationsViewed: 5504
Posted by: Holman Mortuaries
[email protected]
(334)693-3371
Date: Oct 08 2016 11:36 AM
MIDLAND CITY. . Heavens gates opened Friday morning, October 7, 2016, when Howard Michael “Mike” Burgess, 64, Midland City, was welcomed into eternal life with his heavenly Father. Affectionately known as “PaPa” to the grandchildren he adored, “Brother” to his sister, Sgt. Burgess to the hundreds of men with whom he served in the Alabama National Guard and “Honey” to his wife, Charlotte, Mike was a husband, father, farmer, soldier, friend, mechanic and fix-it man extraordinaire.
Celebration of Life services for Mike will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, October 12, 2016, in the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with Reverend Scotty Scott and Reverend Benny Cole officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:30 until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the mortuary in Headland.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 1550 Paramore Road, Dothan, AL 36303.
His story began on October 1, 1952-the first born of Howard Glenn and Mavis Arnold Burgess. Mike was a 1971 graduate of Headland High School where he was a member of the Rams football team. While in high school, he attended Auto Mechanics classes at Wallace Community College in the afternoons where he drove the bus so other HHS students could take advantage of the opportunity. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and ended his military career 28 years later when he retired from the Alabama National Guard. One of the things he most enjoyed were his monthly breakfast meetings with the many “buddies” he made while serving in the Guard. Mike was an American patriot who loved his country and wasn’t afraid to voice that passion.
After graduation and military service, he travelled the United States working as a land surveyor where he visited most all the contiguous 48 states. The love of home brought him back to the Wiregrass where he drove a truck from Dothan to Panama City for Saia Motor Freight every day, making friends along the way. During this time, he also met the love of his life, Charlotte, and made her his bride 27 years ago. Later in his life, he delivered auto parts in Southeast Alabama and the Florida panhandle and owned a metal building business among other pursuits. He ended his working career as a heavy equipment mechanic with Thompson Tractor Company after being diagnosed with health issues several years ago. Mike was smart and ingenious. He could repair anything…and did for anyone who needed his help.
For many years, Mike worked with his brother-in-law and dad farming the family fields in the afternoons and evenings after working at their jobs. He planted gardens and proudly shared the fruits of his labor with family and friends. He could manicure a grass field better than anyone and loved doing it…saying he could solve all the world’s problems behind the wheel of a tractor. At the time of his death, he was working part time plowing peanuts with an area farmer, never quite shaking his love of the land. Mike served as an usher, Sunday School teacher and greeter at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church where he and Charlotte worshipped most every Sunday.
Being a sucker for anything with four legs, Mike was an animal magnet and he loved them all! Abandoned animals lucky enough to be dumped at the Burgess’ back door were in for lots of love and appreciation. His menagerie through the years included all types of sizes of dogs and cats and even a Quaker Parrott who landed on his shoulder while he was pumping gas one day. Who but Mike could attract a needy bird seeking some love and attention?
Mike’s family and friends knew the love he offered to all who would accept it. His family who will forever cherish their memories of him and their lives together include his wife, Charlotte Campbell Burgess, his children, Christi Armstrong (Joel), Cottonwood; and Haley Doswell, (Richard), Ashford; James Hewett (Ashley), Tallahassee, FL; and Steven Burgess (Tabitha), Dothan; and Tracy Griffin, Dothan; son-law, Bruce Todd, Eufaula; a sister, Debbie Spurlock (Danny), Midland City; ten grandchildren, Morgan Todd, Cody Todd, Austin Doswell, Kaitlyn Doswell, Luke Armstrong, Abbie Armstrong, Danica Hewett, Jared Hewett, Ella Burgess and Barrett Burgess; precious friends, Mickey and Debi Breedlove; his special furry canine friends, DJ and Susie, and felines, Stormy and Abby, mourn him as well.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Wayne Hancock, Ronnie Nowell, Randy Harrison, Dennis Coe, Dan Maddox and Dale Kirkland. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be his Army National Guard “buddies”.
Mike Burgess was a friend to everyone he met and left the world a much better place for his years in it. He was much loved and will be missed even more.
HOLMAN-HEADLAND MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com.
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