Malcolm Hart Burgess, 95 of Lynchburg died on Sunday, November 25, 2018. He was born September 2, 1923 at 1013 Pierce Street in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the son and last surviving child of Frank Walker Burgess and Rebecca Bryant Burgess. He was the beloved husband for 69 years of Dorothy Kurtz Burgess. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons Malcolm (Mack) Burgess, Jr. and wife Diane of Goode; William B. Burgess and wife Teresa of Lynchburg; Jeffrey D. Burgess and wife Cheryl of Lynchburg; and a daughter Dixie B. Sears and husband Al of Appomattox; eleven grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many beloved and devoted nieces and nephews. Malcolm was predeceased by three sisters: Madeline B. Bartlett, Ruth B. Burgess, and Lelia B. Gowell; three brothers: Frank T. Burgess, Massie C. Burgess, and Carroll J. Burgess.
As a boy, Malcolm was active in The Boy Scouts of America in Troop 1. As a young adult in the early 1950s, he was Scout Master of Troop 10 at the Old Memorial Methodist Church. At the age of 12, he joined the Old Drum and Bugle Corps of Lynchburg and was quite well known for playing his bugle from age 13 into his early 80s for Memorial Day and Veterans Day events as well as at military funerals. Mr. Burgess was quite a fan as well as an active participant of football, swimming, baseball, hunting, fishing, and horseback riding during his younger years.
Mr. Burgess was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School and Lynchburg College. He did graduate work at the University of Virginia. He served in World War II and was an eight year veteran of the U.S. Navy from 1943-1951 with four years active duty and four years as a charter member of the Lynchburg Naval Reserve. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class. He served on the USS A.R.D. 5 (floating dry dock) in the South West Pacific and the Solomon Islands from 1943 to 1945 and on the USS A.M.C. 8 (underwater mine locator) in the Atlantic Theater from 1945-1946.
From 1954 to 1959, Mr. Burgess was employed by Campbell County Public Schools where he served as teacher and principal of Forest Hill School from 1954-1958 and principal and teacher of Evington School from 1958-1959. During the summer of 1958, he served as part time-Assistant Administrator of the newly established Eagle Eyrie Baptist Assembly. In the summer of 1959, he was hired as full time Assistant Administrator. In 1960, the Virginia Baptist Board of Missions and Education appointed Malcolm as General Manager-Administrator of Eagle Eyrie, a position from which he retired in 1988. In 1968, he was elected as Vice President of the Southern Baptist Camp and Assembly Managers Association. In 1970, he was named President of this organization.
Mr. Burgess was a life member of College Hill Baptist Church where he served as teacher of the Fellowship Bible Class for 30 years, as a deacon, and on various committees.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at College Hill Baptist Church in Lynchburg with the Rev. Dr. Michael Fitzgerald officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., today, Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.
A special expression of gratitude is extended to Dr. Louis B. Graham for many years of medical care and to Centra Hospice, especially to Becky Goodyear and Debbie Grady for their loving care and devotion to Malcolm and his family the past months.
