Billy E. Burgess

Billy Eugene Burgess, 80, of Pine Valley Road, Nashville, TN, on October 7,2021, died peacefully at Alvin C. York Medical Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Billy and his twin brother, Bobby were born at home on May 22, 1941, in Leaksville, NC, to James H. and Ethel Pearl Burgess.

Billy graduated from Ellon College High School in 1960. He immediately signed up for the Army, which sent him to Karlsruhe, Germany, where he was a draftsman and then a bridge builder.

Bill was a Portrait Artist. He painted pastel portraits in Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg, Huntsville, AL, Nashville, TN and many other locations. He learned to paint oil portraits, creating a full size copy the George Washington Landowne portrait hanging in the White House. He painted portraits of many of the Nashville Music Stars, including Marty Robbins and Jeannie C. Riley. Portraits of Governors Lamar Alexander and Ned McWherter are some of his works. Bill did dioramas in the Tennessee State Museum and Milan Agricultural Museum, Milan, TN.

Bill loved Jesus. He was passionate about reading the Bible and trying to understand it. In his latter years, the Bible was the main thing he wanted to talk about. As his wife was reading Psalms 91 to 100 and Romans 8, his heart and breathing slowed and stopped. He graduated from this life to the next.

Bill married Anita Mae Smith on October 25, 1969, his wife of 52 years. They have five children, 4 sons and a daughter.

Billy Eugene Burgess is survived by his wife, Anita Burgess, his sons, William Eugene Burgess, Robert Edward Burgess, (grandson, Robert Brandon Burgess), Jonathan Carl Burgess, (wife, Brittney) (grandchildren, Alyssa, Chloe and Elijah), Daniel Paul Burgess, and his daughter, Juanita Burgess Ackerman, (husband, Anthony). He is also survived by an older brother, Jimmie Ray Burgess.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, James H. and Ethel P. Burgess, his twin brother, Bobby James Burgess, and sisters, Jo Ann Murphy and Mozelle Blevins.

Bill will be cremated according to his wishes. A military funeral will be arranged. Time and place to be set later.

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