Donald Gray Burnette

BURNETTE, Donald Gray, of Richmond, born May 6, 1931, died October 31, 2011. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Burnette and widower of Betty Fisher Burnette. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Walter E. Burnette Jr. He is survived by two sons, Donald Gray Burnette Jr. and his wife, Susan, and Gregory Fisher Burnette; three grandchildren, Jessica Dodson and her husband, Duke, Amanda and Donald Gray Burnette III; and a great-grandson, Dennis "Tripp" Dodson III. He is also survived by Audrey Fisher, who brought him much happiness in his later years. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 60 years. Mr. Burnette, a native of Wellville, Va. near Blackstone, was a 1952 graduate of the University of Richmond School of Business and also received a Master's degree in business from there. He joined the Life Insurance Company of Virginia in 1953, and while there completed the Advanced Management Course at the Darden School, University of Virginia. He retired from Life of Virginia in 1988 as a Senior Vice President. He was active in a number of civic and charitable organizations. He was a past director of the Metro Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, Junior Achievement of Richmond, Richmond Chapter of the Red Cross and the Richmond Technical Center. He also served on the Advisory Council of the University of Richmond School of Business. He was a member of the Hermitage Country Club. The family will receive friends Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road. Graveside services will be held Friday, November 4, 2011 at 11 a.m. in Westhampton Memorial Park. The family requests contributions be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Foundation, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond, Va. 23229.