John Burney

John Franklin Burney, 103 years young, peacefully departed to be with the Lord, Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
Mr. Burney, born January 31, 1914 in White Oak, married the late Mabel Bryan Burney, February 23, 1935. He was a charter member of the White Oak Ruritan Club and was recently recognized with the Ruritan National Community Service Award for 65 years of service. Mr. Burney was a faithful lifelong member of the White Oak Church of God of Prophecy (now called White Oak Family Worship Center) where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and Honorary Deacon. He also served as a school board member of the White Oak School and on the Board of Directors for Bladen County Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Mabel Bryan Burney; his parents John Wesley Burney Sr. and Lucretia Fisher Burney; his brothers: Braxton Robert Burney, Sr., Simon Alexander Burney, and Rufus Athony Burney; and his sister, Saretta Burney Peters.
Mr. Burney is survived by a brother, John Wesley (June) Burney, Jr. of White Oak; a sister, Pearl Luine Brisson of Fayetteville, NC; and five children: Franklin Hugh Burney and wife Joyce of White Oak; Jerry S. Burney of White Oak; Glynda B. McLamb and husband Richard of White Oak; Bonnie B. Meeker and husband Bob of Tar Heel; and Samuel R. Burney and wife Sheree of Summerville, SC; as well as 8 grandchildren: Bryan D. Burney and wife Joye; Kevin L. Burney and wife Sharon; William Scott Burney and wife Amanda; Toni D. Burney, Teresa A. Burney , Jennifer D. Bobby and husband Matthew; Crystal G. Dowd and husband Tracy; and Rodney D. Burney, 14 great grandchildren: Thomas D. Burney, Erin Burney, Alicia M. Meshaw and husband Joey, Kerry L. Burney, Julianna K. Burney, Justin S. Burney, Kayla A. Tipton and husband Joshua, Michael A. Nunnery Jr., Chistopher J. Batton, Autmn S. Bobby, Matthew W. Bobby, Jr., Hannah M. Bobby, James Wesley Dowd, and Andrew Franklin Dowd, and 7 great-great grandchildren: Cadence A. Burney Meshaw, Gavin J. Burney Meshaw, Natalie J. Tipton, Carson G. Tipton, Landon C. Nunnery, Dakota S. Burney and Gabriel Burney.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 5-8 pm at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. A funeral service will be held at the old White Oak School Gymnasium on NC Hwy 53 in White Oak on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 2 pm. Burial will follow the services at the White Oak Family Worship Center Cemetery at 1932 Burney Road.