John Burney

John Wesley (J.W.) Burney, Jr. passed peacefully from this life on February 9, 2018 at the age of 97. Affectionally known as "June" by many and as "Big Pa" by his family, J.W. Burney, Jr. was born on April 18, 1920 in Turnbull, North Carolina. Mr. Burney married the love of his life, the late Willie Hester Edwards Burney on December 7, 1944. He was a faithful and lifelong member of the White Oak Church of God of Prophecy (now known as White Oak Family Worship Center).
Mechanically gifted, Mr. Burney made his living working with his hands. He spent many years of his life "in the log woods" as owner and operator of Burney Logging and Chipping, which he built up from "an old saw and a pickup". He also loved to farm with his brothers; and many days they could be found working the fields of White Oak, often in brutal heat.

Hard working, soft spoken and quick with a smile, he was big-hearted and deeply loved his family and friends. He enjoyed Easter egg hunts and Christmas morning visits with his family. He was very close to his daughters and he valued time spent with his siblings. "Big Pa" also treasured his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a connoisseur of snap button cowboy shirts; and was very partial to the color red. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. Burney was proceeded in death by his parents John Wesley Burney, Sr. and Lucretia Fisher Burney; his brothers Braxton Robert Burney, Sr., Simon Alexander Burney, Rufus Anthony Burney, and John Franklin Burney; and his sister Saraetta Burney Peters.

Mr. Burney is survived by two daughters, Wanda Burney Herring and husband Bryant, and Willie Jean "Jeannie" Burney; four grandchildren, Jonathan Herring and wife Amy, Molly McLean and husband David, June Marie Dickinson and husband Jeremy, and Carla Jean Teel; and seven great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Herring, Ella and Adeline McLean, Caroline, Tucker, Abigail, and Lucy Dickinson; and a sister, Pearl Luine Brisson of Fayetteville.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Friday, February 16, 2018 at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Funeral services will be conducted at White Oak Family Worship Center on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 3:00 pm. Officiating will be Pastor Bill Tatum, Pastor Mackie Walters, Mrs. Lynn Warren, and Reverend Amy Herring. Burial will follow the services in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Building Fund of White Oak Family Worship Center, 1944 Burney Road, White Oak, NC 28399