Ernest Burris

Ernest Ralph Burris, 67, of Oakboro, NC passed away on February 27, 2011 at Watauga Medical Center in Boone. The funeral will be held Thursday, March 3 at Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church at 4 PM with Rev. Ron Honeycutt and Rev. Phillip Smith officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:30-4 PM prior to the service in the church fellowship hall. At other times the family will meet at his home. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery with military rites being conducted by the Stanly County DAV. Mr. Burris was born in Stanly County on September 7, 1943 to the late Claude and Truly Whitley Burris. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Craven Burris; and sister, Betty Austin. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Germany from 1962 – 1964. He retired after 32 years of service as a Data Technician with AT&T / Lucent Technologies. He was also a member of Barbee's Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. Ernest was an avid gardener and loved to travel with his family. He was very mechanically inclined and liked to work on cars, tractors and could repair most anything. Mr. Burris is survived by his wife of 42 years, Brenda Burgess Burris of the home; son, Chad Burris and wife Stephanie of Oakboro; sisters, Jean Speight of Albemarle, Doris Pressley of Simpsonville, SC. Memorials may be made to Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 679, Oakboro, NC 28129. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Burris family.