Burns Lollar

On May 16, 2023, William Burns Lollar III (Burns) passed from this life into God’s all-merciful and all-loving care. Burns was born to Bill and Mary Ann Lollar on June 3, 1968, in Birmingham, Alabama. Burns grew up in the Cahaba Heights community and was active in the Cahaba Heights United Methodist Church youth group and youth choir. He graduated from Shades Valley High School before attending Auburn University.

Burns married Colette Hagerty of Auburn, Ala. and lived his adult life in Auburn, where he was blessed to help raise his stepson, Galen. Later in his life, he dedicated himself to caring for his wife through her long illness, a task he did with compassion and grace. After her passing in October 2022, Burns re-emerged as a vibrant voice in the Auburn-Opelika music scene—even getting the band, Burns and the Sideburns, back together.

Burns’ closest friends have used these words to describe him: “a special talent, strong, compassionate, unpretentious, smart, a true artist, happy.” “Make no mistake,” his friends say, “Burns died happy. He lived life, suffered disproportionately, was kind anyway, and grew flowers wherever he stepped.”

Burns is survived by his parents, Mary Ann and Bill Lollar; his sister, Leigh Anne Hall (Scott), his stepson, Galen Hagerty; his nieces, Dianna Archer (Seth) and Ginny Thomas (Shane); and, in his words, his “geriatric wiener dog,” Belvedere, whom he fondly referred to as “the lad.”

A memorial service will be held at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10:00 am with a visitation beginning at 9 am.

In lieu of flowers, we suggest a donation to your favorite charity or to the Auburn-Opelika Film Arts Collective through Venmo at [email protected] or through PayPal at [email protected].