Funeral services for Mr. Jessie Burke, Sr. will be held Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Montezuma, Georgia. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery.
Our beloved, Jessie Burke, was born September 15, 1926 in Macon County, Georgia to the late W.D. Burke and the late Carrie Phillips Burke. At an early age, he joined Brown Chapel Baptist Church. Later he moved his membership to Little Bethel Baptist Church in Peach County where he served as a deacon until his health declined.
Jessie attended the Flint River Farms School. On May 28, 1949 he was united in holy matrimony to Emma Honey Burke. This union was blessed with four children. He was preceded in death by his wife, two children: Hollis Burke and Dorothy Burke and his siblings: Jim Phillips, Marshall Burke, O.W. Burke, Henry J. Burke and E.H. Burke. Mr. Burke was employed with Barrett Farms and later retired when his health began to decline. God called him home on November 18, 2013.
He leaves to cherish his memory a very devoted daughter, Shirley Burke Brown (Willie, Sr.) of Montezuma, Georgia; his devoted son, Jessie Burke, Jr. (Betty) of Florida; one sister, Mary Ann Burke of Atlanta, Georgia; his brothers: Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Burke and Willie J. Burke of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Burke of Florida, and Chester Burke of Byron, Georgia; seven grandchildren: Anthony Burke (Miranda), Tony Burke, LaVivian Ellington (Antrius), Captain Jeffrey Brown (Captain Kendra), Tyrone Brown, Beverly Brown Latimore (Craig),and Willie J. Brown, Jr. (De’Andrea); great grandchildren: Alexia Clayton, Khaliq Rashad, Christopher Ellington, Timothy Burke, Anterious Ellington, La’Terrian Ellington, Quazerious Ellington, C.J. Latimore and Caleb Latimore; brother-in-law, J.T. Tookes (Bessie) of Montezuma, Georgia; sisters-in-law: Willie Mae Tookes and Mrs. Howard Tookes of Florida; daughter-in-law, Pearlie M. Burke of Montezuma, Georgia; uncle, Clarence Thomas (Rosa) of Montezuma, Georgia; a devoted cousin, Ruby Miller of Montezuma, Georgia; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and sorrowing friends.