The Rev. Emmett Burgess, loving husband and father, passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at the age of 88.
He was born in Ellijay, to the late Glen Burgess and Mattie Davis Burgess.
Being ordained at the age of 29, he spent a lifetime of serving God through music and ministry. He served as a minister in multiple churches in Gilmer, Fannin, Pickens, Murray, Whitfield, Gordon and Cherokee counties.
He was a member of the Pleasant Gap Baptist Church. If not ministering, he was serving as the piano player in the gospel group he and his wife traveled with. As well as being a minister, he served in the United States Military as an Army soldier during the Korean War. He was self-employed, and worked in the logging industry for many years.
Once retired, he could be found giving many tractor rides to his adoring great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death sisters, Meleanies Defoor and Leoma Quarles; brothers, Cecil Burgess and twin brother, Emuel Burgess.
He is survived by wife of 70 years, Rosalee Burgess; daughters, Sharon Bramlett (Michael), of Ellijay, Carol Hensley (Danny), of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; grandchildren, Candi Davis (Brad), of Ellijay, Jocelyn Vanell (Matt), of Morrow, Ohio, Mikey Bramlett (Ashley), of Ellijay, Lauren Maloney, of Hoover, Ala., Justin Hensley, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; great-grandchildren, Riley Vanell, Maylee Bramlett, Myla Bramlett, Colin Maloney, Luke Vanell, Chase Vanell, Jack Davis and Zane Davis.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 25, 2021, from the chapel of Bernhardt Funeral Home with the Rev. Crafton Dover and the Rev. Earl Abernathy officiating.
Interment was in the Pleasant Gap Baptist Church Cemetery.
Bernhardt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.