John William Burris, III

John William ‘Bill’ Burris III passed away Tuesday April 17, 2018 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle at the age of 66. He was born July 8, 1951 to the late Eleanor ‘Put’ Atkins and John William Burris Jr. He was operations supervisor for Atmos Energy for 30+ years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of West Point. He was also an anchor member of Tombigbee Stump Jumpers Ski Club of Columbus for 40 + years. Bill was a devoted family patriarch and a loyal friend to many. He was known by children of all ages as the Sunday School ‘Candy Man’. Children could always find a piece of candy in his suit pocket on any given Sunday. You could always depend on Bill to start a celebration of life and love, especially if food was involved. He always had a passion for traveling and spending time with his family.

Funeral services will be 3 PM Sunday April 22, 2018 at First United Methodist Church in Columbus with Bro. Bill Boggess and Rev. Glenn Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Bill Whittle, Ken Smith, Rowland Morris, Rusty Reynolds, Cameron Whittle, Cody Miller, Carson Miller, and Wade Shultice. Honorary pallbearers will be Russell Caldwell, Mike Lavender, Vee Ferguson, Michell Whittle, Dr. Joe Boggess, Larry Pitre, Carl Miller, Bill Roberts, Preston Arrington, Co workers at Atmos Energy, and Tombigbee Stump Jumpers. Visitation will be 1-3 PM Sunday at the church.

He is survived by his wife, Vickie Mashburne Burris of West Point; daughter, Eleanor Lane Gilmore (Matthew) of Sulligent, AL; son, John William Burris IV of Columbus; brothers, Randle ‘Randy’ Burris (Marilyn) of Columbus, Frances ‘Frank’ Burris (Denise) of Columbus, Thomas ‘Tom’ Burris (Priscilla) of Birmingham; 4 grandchildren, Payton Keeler Gilmore, John Thomas Gilmore, John William Burris V, Dorsey Caroline Sims Burris; and his special friend, Bella. 

Memorials may be made to the church youth group at FUMC Columbus, FUMC West Point, or FBC Sulligent.