Herbert "Iggy" Burroughs Jr.

Herbert Wellborn “Iggy” Burroughs, Jr., 98, passed away at home on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, surrounded by his family. A native of Hamlet, North Carolina, Iggy was the son of the late Herbert Wellborn Burroughs, Sr. and Nora Morgan Burroughs. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Sara Chalmers Burroughs, his dear son Joseph Wellborn Burroughs, and his brother Joseph Judson Burroughs.

Iggy graduated from Hamlet High School in 1943, where he played right guard on the varsity football team. He attended Wake Forest College for a semester before being inducted into the U.S. Navy in February, 1944, and completed his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. Iggy finished additional electrical engineering courses at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma prior to his deployment to the Pacific theater in World War II. He served as an Electrician Mate 3C aboard the USS LCT 1065 and USS LCT 1463 before being discharged in June, 1946.

After his military service, Iggy moved to Raleigh and enrolled in North Carolina State College where he earned a Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering degree in 1951. He then began his 37-year career with Carolina Power and Light (now Duke Energy), designing many of the electrical substations throughout North and South Carolina, rising to the level of Principal, Distribution System Engineer, before retiring in 1988.

Iggy met the love of his life, Sara Chalmers, who was also a CP&L employee at the time, at the Brooks Bowling Alley on Tucker Street in Raleigh, the home of the CP&L employee bowling league. They soon began their romance and married on August 30, 1952. They raised their two sons in the North Hills section of Raleigh and spent many fond summers swimming at the North Hills Club.

Iggy was a passionate fan of all Wolfpack sports and attended many football and basketball games with his family. He was known to ecstatically blast his son’s trombone on the back balcony of the family home to celebrate a significant Wolfpack victory. In his later years, Iggy would watch or listen to all Wolfpack athletic contests with a neighbor who was a fellow faithful NC State fan. Fittingly, Iggy and his son listened to the Wolfpack basketball team win a game just hours before he passed away.

Until the end, Iggy was known to always have a sharp mind and never forgot a fact. His early classmates gave him the nickname “Iggy” as an acknowledgement of his intellect because he was far from an ignoramus. Iggy was a frequent winner of the Chronology trivia game in his last years at Waltonwood Lake Boone.

Most of all, Iggy had a joyful, charismatic personality that drew people to him, and he had a kind word to say about everyone. He was a beloved fixture in the neighborhood where many of the children knew him as “Uncle Iggy.” He was a passionate Little League coach and served as an official for his sons’ AAU swimming events throughout the state.

Iggy and Sara belonged to their treasured Supper Club of dear friends that dined together each month for over 55 years: Walter and Jane Brown; Buddy Clement, Barbara Clement Jackson; John and Martha Coffey; Charlie and Emily Conn; Henry and Virginia Cooper; Tom, Ruth, and Billie Holmes; Gene and Ann Jones; Steve and Kitty Kinney; Ed and Betty Kornegay; Bob and Ann Long; Lindsay and Virginia Reed; Jim and Janie Rutherford; and Pat and Audrey Stubbs.

Iggy was a member of several civic and professional organizations, including the Raleigh Jaycees where he served as past Vice President and Secretary, the Raleigh Engineer Club, the Raleigh Civitan Club, and the Professional Engineers of North Carolina. In retirement, Iggy continued his community service and volunteer activities, working both at the Red Cross blood drives and with Meals on Wheels for 25 years, and for many other years with the United Way.

Iggy loved to garden and studied to earn the Master Gardener designation from the North Carolina State Extension. He created a beautiful English herb garden in the back yard of the family’s home, and he willingly shared his horticulture knowledge with friends and at Extension events in the Raleigh area.

Iggy was a long-time member and dedicated servant to his beloved Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. He served on the Committee of Stewardship; past President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Cameron Class; past Treasurer of the United Methodist Men, was a Stephen Minister and a member of many other committees. He also served as an usher for over 30 years.

Iggy is survived by his son Thomas Chalmers Burroughs of Chicago; his sister-in-law Alta Barnes Chalmers of Raleigh; his nephew James Timothy Chalmers (Collins) of Raleigh, their sons Elliott Jeffries Chalmers of Raleigh, and Miles Timothy Chalmers (Ashlyn) and their daughter Lenorah Estelle Chalmers of Wilson; the children of his dear late niece Sara French Wike, Paul Osburn (Jessica), Thomas Osburn (Stephanie), Emily Ann Wike, and Joseph Wike, all of Atlanta; and beloved family friend Lawrence Edward Tanner, Jr.

The family would like to recognize and thank the staff at Waltonwood Lake Boone, and the professional, thoughtful medical staff at Rex Hospital. The family would also especially like to thank Tomeka Bazemore for her professional, loving, and caring assistance to Iggy.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, February 5th at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road in Raleigh. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall following the service. There will be a private family burial at Raleigh’s Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608 and directed to the Taylor-Burroughs Market P.L.A.C.E.

Iggy's arrangements are in the care of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC 27605.